Dr Ruth Cullen
Many issues are troubling voters, but ultimately no issue is more important than protecting life. We cannot talk about care, compassion and respect for life and then in the same breath single out a particular category of human beings and say they are unworthy of any legal protection. Each human being regardless of age, gender, disability, race, status in society, possesses a profound, inherent, equal and irreplaceable value and dignity.
The politicians and journalists campaigning for the dismantling of the Eighth (Life Equality) Amendment are already positioning themselves as representing the “broad middle ground” of public opinion. They never miss an opportunity to falsely package their proposals as “restrictive”.
An identical tactic worked for them when abortion was first introduced in 2013. Before that law passed, Taoiseach Enda Kenny went to incredible lengths to reassure the public it was an extremely restrictive measure, even claiming the suicide ground would, in all probability, never be used.
Suicide
But within only six months of the law coming into effect, several abortions were carried out under the suicide ground showing the hollowness of the Taoiseach’s assurances. The loss of even one life is an immense tragedy but the new law allows the taking of unborn lives in the full knowledge that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal feelings.
We won’t know how many other innocent lives this law has claimed until the official report is issued in June for the 2014–2015 period. And we’ll never know how the babies whose lives are ended would have enriched their families and our society.
Pro-life people never claimed the floodgates to wide-ranging abortion would open overnight as a result of the 2013 Act. What pro-life spokespeople said was that over time the new law would normalise the practice of abortion and increase pressure for repeal of the 8th Amendment. And that’s exactly what is happening.
Constituents
In the run up to the General Election, some politicians who voted for abortion in 2013 are trying hard to convince constituents of how ‘pro-life’ they are. But as voters, we should judge them by their actions not their words.
We need women and men of proven pro-life courage and conviction in the next Dáil to defend the Eighth Amendment.
The number of pro-life TDs that are elected in the General Election will play a big part in whether or not a referendum is held to take away the last remaining constitutional protection for unborn babies. That’s why we must work together in the coming days to ensure as many pro-life TDs as possible are elected.
Our first priority should be to make sure the TDs who voted against the unjust abortion legislation of 2013 are re-elected. We must also work to ensure that new candidates who are sincere in their support of the pro-life position are also successful.
Each unborn child is a new human being – not a potential human life, but a human life with potential. Though small and hidden from view, he or she is entitled to protection as an utterly dependent and vulnerable member of society. The sad experience is that once laws permitting abortion are introduced, they diminish society’s respect for the inherent value of every human life, born and unborn.
As voters, we have a duty not to be duped. We have a responsibility to carefully assess where candidates stand on defining issues like the right to life.
On February 26, Ireland’s pro-life laws hang in the balance. Before voting, be sure to find out where candidates in your area stand on abortion.
For full details, go to: www.prolifecampaign.ie
Dr Ruth Cullen is a spokesperson for the Pro Life Campaign.