The Catholic Church is absorbing news that the Melbourne Anglican diocese has made a submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission supporting the decriminalisation of abortion.Melbourne Catholic vicar general Msgr Les Tomlinson (pictured) told The Age the Catholic Church had made a submission opposing decriminalisation, while strongly supporting women with problematic pregnancies.
"One of the influential factors is the evidence we come across again and again about how women feel after an abortion. there's a compassion behind it," Msgr Tomlinson said.
The Anglican diocese was one of 40 church, medical and community groups who made confidential submissions to the Victorian Law Reform Commission, which is reviewing state abortion laws.
There were also more than 500 written submissions.
Anglican Archdeacon Alison Taylor said the Anglican church recognised there are circumstances, especially foetal abnormality, when abortion is "the least problematic solution".
"We certainly don't adopt the pro-choice perspective, that it's something women can do with their bodies like having their appendix removed," Archdeacon Taylor said.
"We live in a broken world where appallingly difficult decisions have to be made."
She added she believes Victorian laws are ambiguous and it is not clear whether women or doctors were breaking the law.
The Commission's report to the Attorney-General is due on 28 March.
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