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ARCHBISHOP EAMON MARTIN has called on Catholic followers to “speak the truth about life” and urge friends and family to reject a repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
In a pastoral message to begin the new year, Martin makes direct reference to the report of the Oireachtas committee on the issue. He says it proposes “a very liberal abortion regime”.
Last month, the committee recommended the repeal of the Eighth Amendment which effectively bans abortion in all but very limited circumstances.
It also recommended that abortion be available without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy following consultations between a woman and her doctor.
In his message, Martin says that the amendment is a “declaration of equality and respect for human life” and should be retained.
“It is falsely claimed that wide access to abortion will mark Ireland out as a “modern” country, placing the needs of women ‘at the centre’,” Martin says in the missive.
Abortion ends the human life of an unborn girl or boy. It deceives women – and men – by creating a culture where the decision to end the life of an unborn child is portrayed as simply a matter of individual “choice”.
Martin goes on to say that Ireland should be trying to “guarantee genuine care” for pregnant mothers and that the ambition should be to make Ireland,
the most welcoming country in the world for a woman and her baby in the womb.
In addressing the likely referendum on the issue, Martin encourages followers to “be missionaries for the cause of life” and tells them to argue on behalf of the Eighth Amendment despite what he says are “strong pressures to remain silent”.
“Speak to your families, your children and grandchildren, friends and colleagues about cherishing the precious gift of life at all times from conception to natural death,” Martin says.
Speak the truth about life, and speak it with love. Despite the strong pressures to remain silent, do not be afraid to witness to the equality of all life in private conversations and public discussions in the coming months.
Martin also encouraged followers to contact politicians.
“As citizens committed to the Common Good, you have a democratic right to make your views known, respectfully, to our public representatives,” he said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, Martin said it is important for politicians “to be grounded in what people are thinking”.
After the committee’s report is considered by government, legislation is likely to go before the Dáil later this month which would pave the way for a referendum in the summer.
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Ruble is at a 7yr high, European the weakest in 20yrs. The Saudis are getting such a discount on Russian oil they’re saving there own stock for when needed. Russia doesn’t seem to be feeling the pinch, as for Europe.
@Thommo’s Nose: This is part of the problem, we’ve essentially sanctioned ourselves. I know the aim of these sanctions is for short term suffering for Europe and long term suffering for the Russian state, but by the time that happens, Russia will have established new trade, replaced western products with new products of their own (or alternative countries) and established stronger ties to other big countries outside of the EU/NA. I know a lot of people will say that it’s better than doing nothing, but it’s really only affecting ourselves and the plan has failed. As for the alternative plan, who knows.
@Thommo’s Nose: “Ruble is at a 7yr high”
You understand this doesn’t mean anything? It’s artificially inflated. There is tremendous stress on production lines in Russia due to lack of access to high tech parts.
@Seán Ó Briain: exactly. give it time. lets see how they do in 3-6 months when everything starts falling apart.
Sadly people are already tired of it. It doesn’t mean people don’t care anymore, but the situation is very fatiguing even as an onlooker. I know that’s nothing like what Ukranians feel, but the reality is that focus on the war outside of Ukraine will continue to drop if inflation keeps rising and the cost of energy keeps rising. We will be more concerned with our own “suffering” than what’s going on elsewhere in the world.
@Wooden Spoon: Spreak for youself. But you are not wrong.
A lot of people will at some point loose sight of the bigger picture and just think about their own little “problems”.
Dead right. It’s a long game. As Europe develops next generation power and renewables and sanctions are targeted more and more Russia will fold. So long as the populists like Orban and the Tankies don’t get their way.
As bad as the pinch is now, and I know it’s bad, the difficulty in replacing Russian energy is a blessing in disguise.
Suddenly renewables are not just cheaper long-term (after initial capital investment) but have become an imperative. And yes they don’t replace Russian oil overnight.
But if the progress in fighting climate change shows anything in the last few years it’s a lack of urgency about it. And this has finally added urgent.
@Gerard: This 100%. We have to stick it out. The alternative is much much worse.
@Brian Henoll: I’m afraid it’s already to late putin will drop the bomb when he feels like it he is not personally feeling any effects of sanctions he doesn’t care what anyone thinks he has won the brinkmanship battle and wont back down now, it’s time for US and NATO to grow a pair and stop pussy footing around with sanctions which will take to long to have any meaningful effect I can’t see any other way its capitulate or fight back, putin wants a dead zone along his western borders so after he annihilated Ukraine what’s next on the menu????
Who is winning?
The EU should not be adding fuel to the fire. It is time for countries in the West, including Ireland, a neutral country with a seat on the UN Security Council, to start working for a negotiated peace.
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