THE Bishop of Blackburn used his cathedral Christmas Day message to condemn those who see abortion as the answer to the problem of teenage pregnancies.

The Rt Rev Alan Chesters also attacked the standard of sex education in schools, which he believes could do a lot more than at present to tackle the teenage pregnancy problem.

The Bishop delivered his hard hitting message during the Christmas Day Eucharist Service.

He said: "People think that abortion, which is the denial of life, and sex education in schools, without any morality based on love, are the answer to the growing number of teenage pregnancies.

"It is nonsense, as is the idea that that the signing of treaties without deep forgiveness for past wrongs will bring lasting peace to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, or anywhere else.

"It is like thinking that we can create a caring community and world when the only thing which influences how we vote in elections is which party we think will do the best for me and mine. "In the church we are a long way from the meaning of Christmas if we think worship without sacrificial commitment is the answer, or that talking in endless committees is a sign of love in action, rather than a lack of trust, which it can be.

"We need to hear the cry of the young people 'get real' - which is exactly what God did in the birth of Jesus. This is what makes Christmas a light for the world, wrestling with many problems."

The Bishop called for Millennium celebrations to be accompanied by "a fresh start with new attitudes as a nation and and as individuals.

He added: "The debt relief offered to the poorest nations is a welcome start, but how sad it has to be edged about with strings.

"We seem unable to take the risks love demands, even when it costs so little.

"We recognise Christ in Christmas and in the second millennium of his birth not just by saying a prayer or singing a few carols, but by our deliberate resolution to live as he lived and to bring together the joy of the crib and the cost of the cross."

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