An “abortion culture” which worsens attitudes towards disability and the end of life must be resisted in the Republic of Ireland, Roman Catholic bishops say.
Speaking ahead of next month’s abortion referendum, the bishops encouraged people to vote in favour of the current law which protects the unborn.
Warning of the threat of euthanasia, Roman Catholic bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross said: “We can be sure that if a society decides that human life is disposable at its beginning, it will not be too long before it decides the same for human life at its end”.
Cherish the vulnerable
Bishop Denis Nulty cautioned: “I have the sense that we are walking with our eyes closed into an era of eugenics, unwilling to look where we are going but still continuing on”.
“Once we deny the right to life of the unborn, we can no longer defend ourselves from what flows from an abortion culture”.
Another Roman Catholic bishop, Alan McGuckian, spoke up for the child in rape and ‘unviable’ cases: “Even in those tragic cases the unborn child needs to be loved and cherished.”
Defend
On 25 May, voters will go to the polls on whether or not to repeal the Irish constitution’s Eighth Amendment.
It pledges to “defend and vindicate” the equal right to life of the unborn and the mother, “as far as practicable”.
“Once we deny the right to life of the unborn, we can no longer defend ourselves from what flows from an abortion culture” Denis Nulty, Roman Catholic bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
If voters back repeal, the Government has said it will introduce legislation to allow for abortion on demand during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
Rally for life
Last month, an estimated 90,000 pro-lifers took to the streets of Dublin to urge citizens to vote ‘no’ in the referendum.
The Save The Eighth campaign, which led the rally, said it was “overwhelmed” by the attendance – one of the largest pro-life marches ever held in the country.
Spokeswoman Niamh Uí Bhriain said: “Ireland is at a defining point in our history, and we are challenging the people to reject the abortion industry and to demand better for mothers and babies.”