THE results of the two referendums are the best possible present ahead of Mother’s Day tomorrow. The Government asked voters to remove the word ‘mother’ from the Constitution and they answered with a resounding No. They also rejected by a huge margin the attempt to foist the extremely nebulous term “durable relationships” on the Constitution....
An Oireachtas committee has recommended euthanasia for those judged to be within six to 12 months of death. If we go down this path, we can fully expect there to be pressure to allow it on far more expansive grounds. We know this because pro-euthanasia advocates who appeared before the committee were quite clear on...
David Quinn was on the Hard Shoulder explaining why he is voting No in the two referendums on March 8. He said the family referendums seeks to insert the very ambiguous term “durable relationships” into the Constitution, while the one on carers seek to delete the current reference to the home, to mothers and the...
More than two-thirds of mothers (69pc) with children under the age of 18 would prefer to stay at home with their children rather than go out to work if they could afford it, according to a new Amarach Research opinion poll commissioned by The Iona Institute. In addition, 76pc of mothers said that women who...
The Danish parliament has a Council of Ethics that sometimes reports to it on ethical issues. Recently it reported on euthanasia. Surprisingly perhaps – given Denmark’s reputation as a hyper-modern society – the Council recently voted overwhelmingly against recommending euthanasia or assisted suicide in any way, shape or form. Members of the Council of Ethics...
If all mothers are out working, which is what the Government seems to want, and most young children are in daycare, shouldn’t we closely examine the benefits of this aim from the point of view of mothers, children and society? The question is particularly relevant in light of the carers’ referendum on March 8th. Many...
Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Irish Medical Council (IMC), appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying on Tuesday and defended their extremely controversial decision to remove the prohibition on doctors deliberately ending a patient’s life from the Council’s ethical code. She denied the charge that the move helps pave the way for euthanasia...
The Supreme Court has handed down its judgement in the case of John O’Meara & Ors. (Applicants/Appellants) v The Minister for Social Protection, Ireland and the Attorney General. For the purpose of this blog, I shall confine myself to just one point, but a very important one, which has to do with the meaning of...
The Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying continues to hold hearings. On Tuesday it heard from representatives of disability groups. Peter Kearns (pictured), the representative from the Independent Living Movement observed that debates about euthanasia and assisted suicide can easily “trigger commentary with eugenic overtones”. He said that lack of necessary resources and of societal acceptance will...
Anti-Christian crimes in Europe are increasing, according to a recent report by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC). For example, it says that arson attacks on churches increased by 75pc in 2022 compared with 2021. In 2022, OIDAC recorded 749 anti-Christian hate crimes across 30 European countries. Notably, there were...
