Archbishop Mullally Forced to Show Up for Abortion Vote After Pro Life Outrage

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally Confirms She Will Vote on Landmark Abortion Up to Birth Amendment in the House of Lords

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally has confirmed she will attend the House of Lords on Wednesday to vote on proposed amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that could effectively decriminalize abortion at any stage of pregnancy in England and Wales.

The confirmation came after intense backlash from pro life groups who feared she would skip the critical vote in favor of a six day, 140 kilometer walking pilgrimage from St. Paul's Cathedral in London to Canterbury, which began on Tuesday.

A Lambeth Palace spokesperson stated:

The Archbishop will be in the House of Lords on Wednesday to vote on the proposed amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill. It will not affect the pilgrimage.

The amendments under consideration, part of what is known as the Antoniazzi amendment, would remove criminal penalties for women who procure their own abortions at any stage of pregnancy, including up to and during birth. The House of Commons previously approved changes to the legal framework so that women would not face prosecution for ending their own pregnancy after the current 24 week legal limit.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) had warned it would be "a damning indictment on Sarah Mullally personally, and the Church of England hierarchy more generally" if she failed to attend. Dr. Calum Miller called the confirmation "good news."

Twenty three Church of England bishops currently sit among the Lords Spiritual, and pro life campaigners say they could make the difference between the amendments passing or failing. Right to Life UK has urged all 23 bishops to clear their diaries for the vote.

Mullally, who is set to be formally installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on March 25, has previously pushed back against being labeled "pro choice." In October 2025, she told Church Times that the issue is complex and stated her support for "the Church of England's principled opposition to abortion" while acknowledging "strictly limited conditions" where it may be preferable. She emphasized that women facing unwanted pregnancies need "compassion and care."

Church of England Bishops Face Major Test on Abortion Decriminalization in UK Parliament

The vote marks one of the most significant moral tests for the Church of England's leadership in recent memory. With 23 bishops holding seats in the House of Lords, the Church has real legislative power on this issue, and the eyes of the Christian world are watching to see how they wield it.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let us be absolutely clear about what is being voted on here: the legal right to end the life of a fully formed, viable human child at any stage of pregnancy, up to and including the moment of birth. That is not "reform." That is not "healthcare." That is the sanctioning of infanticide by another name.

The Archbishop's confirmation that she will attend is the bare minimum. It should never have been in question. When Parliament is voting on whether to strip all legal protection from the most vulnerable human beings on earth, the leader of the Church of England does not go on a walk. You stand in that chamber and you fight for the voiceless. Every single one of those 23 bishops should be in their seats, and every single one should be voting no.

And let us not forget: Mullally still refuses to call herself pro life. She speaks of "complexity" and "compassion." There is nothing complex about defending innocent life. Seventy three million abortions happen worldwide every year. That is not a grey area. That is evil, and the Church must say so.

Take Action

• Contact your local Church of England diocese and ask them to publicly oppose abortion decriminalization: Find your diocese here
• Support the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), which led the campaign to hold Mullally accountable: www.spuc.org.uk
• Support Right to Life UK, which is urging all 23 bishops to vote against the amendments: www.righttolife.org.uk
• Share this story with your church community and start a conversation about the Church's responsibility to defend life in the public square
• Support Christian persecution relief through www.TheShepherdsShield.org