Dear Editor, In September 1983 the Eighth Amendment was passed by the Irish people with 66.9% support. Despite that clear decision, a large number of pro-abortion campaigners persistently ignored that mandate, not for three years, but for more than three decades.
In 2018, following a campaign in which the Irish public were misled by pro-abortion politicians and campaigners regarding the consequences of repeal, the Eighth was repealed and afterwards abortion on demand was legalised in Ireland. Despite this horrific outcome, pro-life advocates will continue to fight for justice and equality for all people, born and unborn.
Three years later we can now see the deadly consequences of repeal. The numbers of Irish abortions have increased dramatically, and some babies have even lost their lives in horrific late term abortions in Irish hospitals. The abortion legislation has trampled on healthcare workers’ right to freedom of conscience, and repeal of the Eighth is now being used as an excuse by pro-abortion campaigners to threaten freedom of expression.
The 2018 abortion legislation is now up for its three-year review. For this review to be genuine, fair and unbiased, it must be willing to look at, and tackle, the outcome of the current liberal Irish abortion law, such as the increase in the abortion rate and the horrific consequences of late-term abortions on babies, women and medical staff. The review must also address the failure of the Government to provide women with unplanned pregnancies with positive alternatives to abortion. It must not just be a device to further promote and widen the availability of this deadly procedure in Ireland.
Yours etc.,
Sean O Domhnaill,
Galway For Life,
Galway City, Galway
Not all societal changes have been for the better
Dear Editor, There have been some terrific stories in the media recently about babies who were found on the street, adopted and then went on to have full and successful lives. The question needs to be asked, if such seemingly inconvenient pregnancies had occurred in our own day, rather than in the 1960s, is it likely that there would have been such happy outcomes? Clearly, some of the changes we have made to our society were not for the better!
Yours etc.,
Eamon Fitzpatrick,
Strandhill Road, Sligo
Pressurise Philippines’ politicians to stop child marriage
Dear Editor, The article regarding child-marriage laws in the Philippines was harrowing to read [IC 09/09/2021]. I could never do the work that Fr Shay Cullen does as it would be far too upsetting but I support him wholeheartedly in his battle against the grave injustices, perpetrated by corrupt and evil people, against the children of the Philippines.
Considering it is 2021, we are in a modern era of human rights, science etc. how can it be that the sexual age of consent in the Philippines is just 12 years of age? Fr Cullen has spoken on many occasions of the need to stop sexual tourism of paedophiles to the Philippines who specifically target children.
On this occasion he was speaking out against a bill against ‘baby brides’ which is being delayed by the country’s House of Representatives. The bill would raise the age of consent to 16. It’s horrific to think that children as young as 12 are being sold to men twice the age and more for ‘marriage’. As Fr Cullen describes it, “it’s a cover for paedophilia” which has been going on for generations.
The global community should be putting more pressure on the Philippines to introduce this bill and to stop children being abused, this is not a time to turn a blind eye. I would like to include, as was included in the original article, the email addresses for two politicians who must be pushed to stop delaying this important bill. The email addresses are for: House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco at speakerlordvelasco@house.gov.ph or lavmarinduqueph@gmail.com and Senate President Vicente C Sotto III at os_sotto@yahoo.com.
While some of the ruling powers in the Philippines have chosen to stay silent on the issue, that does not mean every one else should, especially for an outrageous, diabolic situation like this which seems to be happening under the international community’s nose.
Yours etc.,
Mary O’Reilly
Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin
State can’t shift blame on Church for housing crisis
Dear Editor, During the pandemic in particular, certain areas of Dublin looked post-apocalyptic. The streets were empty except for homeless people and the odd Deliveroo driver. The foodbanks were full and those afflicted with drug addictions roamed the streets asking any person that happened to be around for change. Without a doubt, the pandemic has exposed the sheer extent of the issue of homelessness and drug addiction.
Bro. Kevin says the Capuchins, who run the Capuchin Day Centre which feeds the homeless, are doing all they can to alleviate the housing and homelessness crisis on your front page [IC 02/09/2021]. This was a response to the Government asking the Church to identify land that could be used for housing. It is bizarre that many, many politicians speak about the need for the separation of Church and State but then turn to the Church to ask for land. I believe this was a cynical move considering the letter was leaked to the media before it had even reached Archbishop Eamon Martin. I think they were trying to fuel the belief that the Church has huge swathes of land and shift the blame for the housing crisis, even though the Government has huge amounts of land that they are unprepared to use for social and affordable housing. It was even mentioned in the letter that some Catholic prelates had spoken out about the housing crisis, perhaps this letter was hitting back against that criticism? If so,a very immature move.
The Church, in the past, present and future has helped those suffering from homelessness and addiction. It has continued to do this, whether that be by supporting the homeless on the frontline or even selling land so that it may be used for social and affordable housing. It is the lack of political will and ingenuity of subsequent governments for more than a decade that has caused the housing crisis to continue, don’t point the finger at the Church!
Yours etc.,
Seán Connolly
Cork City, Cork
Testing healthy children will raise anxiety levels
Dear Editor, I always enjoy reading Dad’s Diary but was saddened to read how healthy schoolchildren are already having their school year disrupted. This is not the cause of the virus but rather NPHET/HSE policy of not allowing antigen testing. Parents could use these when they deemed it necessary, to find out if their children were infectious, instead of the HSE being in total control through PCR testing.
Irish school children have endured the longest total school closure of all EU countries. Compare this to Sweden, where, from the early stages of the pandemic, they mandated that all schoolchildren under 16 years continue to attend school (and without masking), in an effort to follow the science while keeping life as normal as possible for the children.
Surely testing healthy children for a virus they are at no risk from only serves to raise anxiety levels amongst children? Is this the type of society we want for our children?
Yours etc.,
Ann Gillanders
Ballybough, Dublin 3