Independent Senator Ronan Mullen launched a stinging criticism of the Government’s proposals to remove the terms ‘women’ and ‘mother’ from the constitution, suggesting that Government is deviating from its official programme and being guided by specific ideologies instead. “The Government now wants to remove mention of ‘woman’, ‘mother’ and ‘home’ from the Constitution,” he said.…
Tags: referendum
The referendum and personal conscience
As referendum day approaches, Catholics will be told by all and sundry that they should vote according to their consciences. In a Western democratic society like Ireland, which values individual freedom and personal autonomy above all else, there is little difficulty in accepting the central role of ‘conscience’. Hardly anyone disagrees with that, because ultimately…
Alternatives to abortion are a priority
The Government has failed to focus on positive alternatives to abortion despite the fact that many of the electorate have “pleaded” with the Government to create a space for such debate, a leading pro-life group has said. Speaking at a press conference this afternoon in Dublin, spokesperson of Love Both Sinead Slattery said: “In the…
Where the Eighth Amendment is concerned, we are the legislators
Each of us will soon have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to remove an amendment to the Irish Constitution that defends the right to life of unborn children. There is no point in beating around the bush: a vote to remove this protection from unborn children will be a vote for abortion.…
Government’s proposals: the reality of repeal
The View Although the Government still hasn’t announced the date for the referendum to repeal the rights of children before they are born, we now know what it is they are proposing. No longer can anyone say: “Ireland is different, we have a different culture here; Irish politicians wouldn’t vote for a permissive abortion…
Mother and baby homes: a hidden history
Every society has treated ‘unwanted’ children as a problem, writes David Quinn As with the Magdalene homes, mother and baby homes have developed a strong attachment in the public mind with both Ireland and Catholicism. That is to say, these institutions seem peculiar to Irish Catholicism. This linkage in the public mind is likely…
Irish medical group denounce referendum proposal
Irish GP, Dr Siobhan Crowley, from the new group of medical professionals the ‘Medical Alliance for the 8th’ spoke at a press conference on Kildare street in Dublin supporting the retention of the Eighth Amendment. Below is the full text of Dr Crowley’s March 22 statement, in which she said: “In the event of repeal,…
Thinking – and voting – with the mind of the Church
A Catholic with a properly formed conscience cannot vote for abortion, writes David Quinn Can a Catholic in good conscience vote in favour of abortion? This was the question put to the new Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian, on Morning Ireland last week. Bishop McGuckian was speaking about the bishops’ latest statement on the…
Huge crowds attend pro-life rally as referendum approaches
In one of the biggest pro-life demonstrations ever in Ireland, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital to call for a ‘No’ vote in the upcoming abortion referendum. Demonstrators of all ages, from across Ireland, marched from Parnell Square to Merrion Square to advocate for the retention of the Eighth…
Public prayer seen as vital for preserving human life
Praying in public is of vital importance to the outcome of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, according to campaigners. “In the battle for life, we have to do the canvasing and everything else, yes, but we are not going to win without prayer because it is very much a spiritual battle,” pro-life advocate Kathy Sinnott told…