Opinion

Voters in referendum are the unborn child’s last line of defence

In her article on the forthcoming referendum, in which she claims to “not weigh in on one or the other” sides of the “argument”, Leona O’Neill (April 24 makes reference to the tragic case of Savita Halappanavar.

She claims that the Repeal the Eighth campaign ‘nods back’ to this tragedy as ‘a reason for overhauling the Republic’s abortion laws’.

In fact, the pro-abortion lobby in the 26 counties have shamelessly used Savita Halappanavar’s untimely death, in 2012, as an excuse to pursue their objective of abortion on demand.

In fact, ethically and morally, she was entitled to a therapeutic abortion under Irish law as it exists (without repeal of the Eighth) and, inexplicably, this course of action was not taken by the medical personnel.

Even the Church’s moral teaching allows for abortion when the mother’s life is in mortal peril and her treatment will result in the unintended, unavoidable and undesired death of her child.

We need to be very clear in the face of distortion by the abortionist lobby – it is deliberate and intentional abortion that can never be morally justified under any circumstances.

Furthermore, let no one be under any illusion, despite the twisting and misappropriation of such beautiful human qualities as ‘compassion, care and trust’ by politicians and pundits, to align with their determined outcome of abortion on demand, the vast majority of abortions are not to save the life of the mother.

It is a very liberal abortion regime that is envisaged by the ‘Repeal the Eighth’ campaign.


There is no ‘nice’ way to talk about abortion and the implications of the abortion industry being allowed full sway in Ireland. 

Our fellow country men and women in the 26 counties certainly need to educate themselves with the facts, away from the disingenuous propaganda generated by powerful bodies clamouring for a ‘Yes’ vote.

A referendum cannot repeal God’s Law which identifies deliberate abortion as intrinsically evil by its very nature.


Nevertheless, as Bishop Denis Brennan said recently, in his pastoral letter on the child’s right to life, voters are “the unborn baby’s last line of defence”.

Those with a vote on May 25 can use it decisively to thwart the further advancement of the culture of death, manifest in the abortion industry, which has long had Ireland in its sights.

Fr PATRICK McCAFFERTY


Belfast BT12

No wonder Northern Ireland is in such a mess

The RHI enquiry proceedings have followed a fairly typical and  predictable course with plenty of ‘not me guv’ responses. The various respondents have, after all, had months to prepare. 

The ‘Sterling’ efforts by the head of the Civil Service to explain the unprecedented absence of minutes notes and records has been a revelation of course.  

Last week was Arlene Foster’s turn and her great wheeze was to claim that RHI was not a personal, ie ministerial, priority, that was her minions’ job. Arlene was ‘interested’,  just not very much presumably, to the point that she had no interest in her departmental budget either, since RHI costs however much a mystery,  logically would have had some impact on whatever else did catch her interest?

A breathtaking performance, imagine Amber Rudd standing up and saying that Windrush citizenship was not a personal priority and that she preferred to spend her time redesigning nice new passports with  blue crayons? Better still, consider a headmistress of a school where all the pupils were failing in maths or science giving the parents a similar response.

The tragedy is that this is the best Arlene could come up with after 18 months of deep reflection. 

It is truly no wonder this place is in such a mess.

FRANK HENNESSEY


Belfast BT9

People  power

The recent Rally for Life was an astonishing success. It attracted 100,000 people and gave a very clear message to the legislators.


Niamh Uí Bhriain, her supporters, and, if they had a voice and a vote, the unborn, should have been very proud of this affirmation.

With this staggering turnout behind her Niamh should have been given much more than the paltry interview she was given on the RTÉ News. Due to the existence of a constitution of the people  this is the only country afforded a chance to vote on this vital issue. It may be the reason why the government is being nice to us.

The constitution gives the people and the people alone  the final say in how the country is to be run. This stands above government and the lawyers.

Politicians and the mainstream media are averse to the constitution. Just look at what we are asked to say ‘yes’ to in the coming referendum: ‘Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy’.  ‘By law’ here means ‘us’ [the legislators] and not ‘you’ [the voters]. More importantly this also means that the votes of 2.5 million Irish people are to be handed over to some 80, perhaps even one, politician of a dysfunctional Dáil.

Effectively, in perpetuity. What are future generations going to think of this?

Oh, but we have the legislation. Well, no, we don’t. We’re not asked to vote on the legislation at all (whatever that might turn out to be), we’re voting on handing over power, or enabling the Dail, in this referendum.

From a politician’s point of view this is what matters –  abortion is only a side issue. There is only one answer – no.

DONAL O'DRISCOLL


Blackrock, Co Dublin

Clear case of poor judgment

When an incident such as the Salisbury poisoning happens, sad as it is, one must follow the money and ask who benefits – Theresa May of course. She has presented as strong and stable, indeed almost regal, and has united her government and party behind her. She has split the EU down the middle on the cusp of a Brexit deal, something the Russians never could do. The civil war in the Labour party has been reignited and Corbyn is again being branded as a Trotskyite amid claims over anti-semitism. Choreography would suggest he is the real target. The anti-Russian sentiment coming from the west and mainstream media is scarcely disguised racism. Nothing better to get the blood up in order to advance their geopolitical agenda.


It is disappointing that Mr Varadkar has joined the chorus for the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Poor judgment at best. Ireland has always prided itself in standing up for the underdog. Mr Varadker has turned that on its head. 

MARTIN DARCY


Omagh, Co Tyrone