The two most senior Church of Ireland leaders yesterday re-affirmed their opposition to unrestricted access to abortion, and called the proposal to repeal the Eighth Amendment a “stark decision” as the Government have now confirmed that unrestricted access to abortion, for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, would follow upon repeal of the amendment.

The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland said they had previously expressed concern that the referendum was being understood as something like an opinion poll on abortion. “However, now that the Government has made known the general scheme of a Bill which it would introduce should the referendum on the repeal of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution of Ireland be passed, voters face a stark decision.” While they said the present amendment was not entirely satisfactory, and might need some modification, “what is now being proposed by the Government – if the Article is repealed – is unrestricted access to abortion up to twelve weeks of pregnancy”.

They continued: “unrestricted access to abortion in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, or indeed at any stage, is not an ethical position we can accept. There is, for Christians, a very clear witness in the Scriptures that all human life, including before physical birth, has a sacred dignity in the eyes of God”. They concluded: “We therefore ask Church members to think through the issues involved carefully and with prayer over these coming weeks.”