The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference has reasserted the right to life at all stages following Northern Ireland’s recent ruling on abortion.
Having discussed, during their quarterly meeting this week, the ruling by Belfast’s High Court for expanded provision for terminations to address what the court viewed as a breach of women’s human rights, the bishops issued a joint statement in which they echoed concerns expressed earlier by Northern prelates.
“Human life is sacred. Life at all stages deserves the utmost protection, compassion and care,” the conference said.
Addressing the specific arguments posed in Belfast for abortion provision based on rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities, the Bishops continued: “If an unborn child suffers from a life-limiting condition, or is conceived as a result of a sexual crime for which s/he bears no responsibility, it would be inhumane to withdraw the protection of our basic law, the [Republic’s] Constitution, to their right to life. As Irish society enters the most significant of centenary years it is more pressing than ever ‘to cherish all the children of the nation equally’ whether unborn or born, and irrespective of a child’s health status.”
Referencing continuing calls for the republic to repeal the Constitution’s 8th Amendment protection for the unborn, the Bishops said any such move would represent “a direct attack on the most fundamental of all human rights – the right to life.”
The Bishops’ Conference made its statement in the wake of numerous interventions by Irish politicians and pro-abortion activists for the 8th Amendment to be removed. Among the groups advocating such a move has been Amnesty International, which has formulated a targeted campaign for repeal, and which welcomed the Belfast ruling for wider provision of abortion as “hugely significant”.
The Irish Bishops announced also after their quarterly meeting that they have held discussions with CURA, the Church’s crisis pregnancy support service, as to how it can continue to best support women experiencing crisis pregnancies and so provide a very real alternative to abortion now and in the future.
