The Catholic bishops of Scotland have aligned themselves with women’s groups and JK Rowling in urging MSPs to throw out a Bill to permit sex change by self-declaration.

They say they are “gravely concerned” that the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will pose a threat to women and girls from predatory males who self-identify as female and who will be able to access women-only safe spaces.

The bishops said that the proposals in the Bill were “unsafe and likely to harm young people”.

They are also worried about the harassment and persecution of people opposed to the imposition of the “ideology of gender” by the Scottish government and the erosion and abnegation of their authentic freedoms.