The new abortion law has “no moral force” and has “to be resisted”, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh has said.

In his New Year message, Archbishop Eamon Martin said despite the repeal of the Eighth Amendment “it remains no less true that the life of a woman and her unborn baby are equally deserving of love, respect and protection”.

“Any law which suggests otherwise has no moral force,” he said.

“In good conscience it cannot be supported; it has to be resisted and we must continue to call and work diligently for its limitation, amendment and repeal.”

Dr Martin also said health staff should not be compelled to participate directly or indirectly with abortions. “No one should be forced, against their conscience, to participate in abortion or to refer patients to others for abortion,” he said.