2012-10-07 11:03:38

Irish bishops: A decisive moment for nation, we must choose life


(Vatican Radio) – “The Catholic faith has always taught that the lives of both the mother and her unborn baby are both sacred”, says Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, Ireland. “That causes some confusion, but concern for the mother’s life must go hand in hand with concern for her unborn child. Anyone who claims to be pro-life, must also emphatically be pro-mother”.

The Church’s annual Day for Life coincides this year with a decisive moment for Ireland. In the coming weeks, the Government will decide how to respond to a 2010 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. That judgement ruled that Ireland must legislate for abortion in cases where a mother’s life is deemed to be at risk. Ireland is one of only two European nations where abortion is illegal, the other is Malta. Listen to Archbishop Neary's interview with Emer McCarthy : RealAudioMP3

Choose life!: That is the call of the Catholic Church in Ireland and it is also the title of a pastoral letter that was read out in parishes across the country Sunday October 7th at the beginning of a month of prayer for the protection of life. Each Sunday, until the feast of all Irish Saints, November 6th, believers are being invited to pray Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer.

Archbishop Neary notes “the World Health Organisation has recognised, without abortion, remains one of the safest countries in the world in which to be pregnant and to give birth. This is something we should be proud of as a country, but also something that we should seek to protect”.
“The Irish Government is under no obligation to legislate for abortion because of this ruling of the European Court. On the contrary, the Irish Government is free to respond by seeking full protection in Irish law for the right to life of the baby in the womb. This could be done while ensuring that women in pregnancy continue to receive every treatment necessary to safeguard their lives”.
There have been five national referenda on abortion since 1983. On each occasion the Irish people have voted against legalising abortion.








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