Scottish Catholic Observer

They said the proposed legislation is a ‘dramatic and morally unacceptable change to Irish law.’  They went on to say that the new act would ‘make the direct and intentional killing of unborn children lawful in Ireland.’

“The legislation is unnecessary to ensure that women receive the life-saving treatment they need during pregnancy,” the bishops said.

Existing law allows doctors to take any steps that are medically necessary, even at risk to the unborn child, to save the life of a mother in a crisis pregnancy.

The pressure to modify Ireland’s abortion law arose after the death of Savita Halappanavar, which was originally attributed to doctors’ refusal to perform an abortion. An inquest into her case found that she died because attending physicians were not aware of a sharp deterioration in her condition.

In their denunciation of the proposed Protection of Life in Pregnancy Bill, the Irish bishops said that it ‘also appears to impose a duty on Catholic hospitals to provide abortions.’

They asked Catholics to urge their representatives to vote against the bill but did not outline any plans for disciplinary action against the sponsors of the legislation, including the government leadership. Questioned as to whether politicians who vote for the bill should be barred from receiving Communion, the Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Seán Brady of Armagh (above), answered: “There would be a great reluctance to politicise the Eucharist.”

Cardinal Brady was also present at an anti-abortion prayer vigil, which was held on Saturday at the Marian Knock Shrine, County Mayo, which was attended by more than 5000 people.

— This story ran in full in the May 10 print edition of the SCO