London - The leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland yesterday accused the Scottish Health Minister, Ms Susan Deacon, of "undermining" family life. Cardinal Thomas Winning said the minister showed "no respect" for young Scots by "offering them easy sex with no thought for the consequences". Underage sex would not be tackled "by throwing condoms and pills at vulnerable young people".
Ms Deacon insisted young women had the right to advice and help on abortion and contraception, and called for the "targeted provision" of condoms and contraceptive pills. Some 9,000 unwanted teenage pregnancies and 4,000 teenage abortions occurred in Scotland last year.