Tanaiste
Eamon Gilmore has conceded that the Church has the right to lobby politicians
on abortion and other issues.
Mr Gilmore
was responding to journalists’ questions after his party colleague, Pat
Rabbitte, told RTE last week that the Church should not ‘dictate’ to
politicians and that this would be a retrograde step.
Mr Rabbitte
was commenting after Cardinal Sean Brady, also speaking to RTE, indicated that
the Church would lobby politicians on the abortion issue.
An expert
group established by the Government is currently looking at ways to legislate
for the X-case or to bring in regulations similar to legislation.
Asked if he agreed
with Minister Rabbitte, Mr Gilmore told The Irish
Examiner: “I think what he said was that we shouldn’t return to the
situation in the past where the Church was dictating to the State. I agree with
him on that, but of course, the Church and individual Church people as citizens
have every right to lobby whoever they want to lobby.”