Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, has defended the appointment of Nigel Biggar, an Anglican philosopher who has supported abortion up to 18 weeks, as a member.
Archbishop Paglia told La Stampa he had not been aware of Professor Biggar’s views at the time of the appointment. He also said that Biggar had been recommended for the academy by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby.
In 2011, Prof Biggar told Standpoint magazine: “I would be inclined to draw the line for abortion at 18 weeks after conception, which is roughly about the earliest time when there is some evidence of brain activity, and therefore of consciousness. In terms of maintaining a strong social commitment to preserving human life in hindered forms, and in terms of not becoming too casual about killing human life, we need to draw the line much more conservatively.”
