CHANGES to the Republic's abortion laws have "no moral force" and have "to be resisted", the Catholic primate has said.
In his New Year message, Eamon Martin, the Archbishop of Armagh, said despite the repeal of the Eighth Amendment "it remains no less true that the life of a woman and her unborn baby are equally deserving of love, respect and protection".
"Any law which suggests otherwise has no moral force," he said.
"In good conscience it cannot be supported; it has to be resisted and we must continue to call and work diligently for its limitation, amendment and repeal."
Echoing comments he made to The Irish News before Christmas, Dr Martin said health staff should not be compelled to deal with abortions.
"No one should be forced, against their conscience, to participate in abortion or to refer patients to others for abortion," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Martin and the other main church leaders have warned that the continuing impasse at Stormont "drains hope from our society".
Brexit and the continuing rise in the use of food banks were also highlighted in a joint New Year statement from the leaders of the Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
The churches said uncertainty around the UK's departure from the European Union at the end of March had caused concern.
"Many businesses fear for the future, while many families, struggling to make ends meet today, are anxious about what that future might hold," they said.
The churches praised those who had set up food banks but added that the "marked increase in people needing to avail of such facilities is a worrying trend".
"Added to this, in Northern Ireland the lack of a functioning devolved government not only drains hope from our society, but also has meant an ever increasing pressure on our schools, our hospitals, our welfare system and many other aspects of society’s infrastructure," they said.
"As so often happens, it is the vulnerable and the marginalised that suffer most and they should be at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers as we enter into a new year."
They said people in community and church groups are "giving positive leadership on the ground".
"As church leaders we have urged the leaders of our political parties in Northern Ireland to do the same – to make a difference and to bring a sense of hope," the church leaders said.
