Opinion

It is time to repeal 8th Amendment and time to trust women

I have read with some interest and bemusement the replies to my letter published on January 11.

My claims have been referred to (mostly by men, given the signatories to the letters) as ‘ignorant, shameful, sickening, woefully ill-informed and absurd.’ Given that none of you will ever find yourselves in a crisis pregnancy situation, your opinions will be treated with the condescension they deserve.

The decision now to hold a referendum on repealing the 8th Amendment to the Irish Constitution in May 2018 is very welcome by myself and my party. The amendment, if approved by the people, will delete article 40.3.3 in its entirety and remove the effective constitutional ban on abortion from Bunreacht na hÉireann.

The taoiseach, a medical doctor and former minister for health, does not believe that we can continue with a situation where women in crisis are risking their lives through the use of unregulated medicines. We know that many women are obtaining abortion pills through the post to end their pregnancies, without any medical support, or counselling, or supervision. So the point he makes is that we do already have abortion in Ireland, but it is unsafe, unregulated and unlawful. We cannot continue to export our problems and import our solutions.

Many Catholics believe that a woman should be able to exercise reproductive healthcare freely, safely and legally. For example the organisation Catholics for Choice  describe themselves as “part of the great majority of the faithful in the Catholic Church who disagree with the dictates of the Vatican on matters related to sex, marriage, family life and motherhood. We are part of the great majority who believes that Catholic teachings on conscience mean that every individual must follow his or her own conscience – and respect others’ right to do the same.”

I would advise those who have replied to my previous letter to take a leaf out of the taoiseach’s book and think on his words: “I believe this is a decision about whether we want to continue to stigmatise and criminalise our sisters, our co-workers, and our friends. Or whether we are prepared to make a collective act of leadership to show empathy and compassion.” It is time to Repeal the 8th Amendment and time to trust women. Surely this is what decent Christians would do.

CLARE BAILEY MLA


Green Party

Presenting march towards abortion as progress truly lamentable

There can be no excuse for cruelties and harsh judgments of the past meted out to Irish teenage girls and young women who became pregnant outside of marriage. 

There is no justification, in our Catholic Christian Faith, for the manner in which young girls and women were treated in places like the Magdalene Laundries and other now infamous institutions. It is indeed a matter of great shame.

However, for Allison Morris (February 1) to attempt to present the aggressive march towards abortion, driven by a deeply prejudiced media and political establishment, as some form of progress, is truly lamentable.

Liberal abortion regimes, prevalent throughout the world, are an obscene blight upon humanity.


For Ireland to fall into step with this almost universal abortion industry, will be a dark day indeed in our history.

Ms Morris refers to “babies ripped from their young mothers’ arms never to be spoken of again”. Now we are faced with the even worse prospect of prenatal children, up to and including three months old being torn from their mothers’ wombs.

She cites “a new generation of Irish women, brave and fearless”. There are equally brave and fearless Irish women and men who refuse to be swayed by the prevailing abortionist zeitgeist, who see beyond the weasel words and fake compassion of pro-abortion politicians, media commentators and lobbyists and who are not intimidated by their intolerance.

It is to be hoped that there are still enough people in Ireland, north and south, who know the value and sanctity of human life, to rally their forces to resist the truly diabolical assault upon the 8th Amendment and to defeat it.

Whatever the outcome of the proposed referendum – and that outcome is by no means a foregone conclusion despite the pro-abort propaganda to the contrary – Catholics, other Christians and many other people of good will (for the defence of the unborn child is by no means confined to those with religious convictions), will continue to tell the truth about abortion.

FR PATRICK McCAFFERTY


Belfast BT12

Sneers will turn to fears

Sinn Féin for the sake of peace facilitated British rule in Ireland by taking their seats at Stormont yet refuse to facilitate ‘Irish Rule’ at Westminster because of an ‘Oath of Allegiance’. An enforced oath like an enforced prayer is meaningless, in this case a mere technicality. It hasn’t prevented the proud Scottish nationalists from taking their seats for the good of their country.

Yes there will be sneers but those sneers could very well turn to fears as Sinn Féin and only Sinn Féin have the power to overthrow this right-wing minority regime.


This could elect a government more affable to the EU and more importantly for us to Ireland’s plight of an otherwise inevitable ‘Hard Border’.


Couldn’t Sinn Féin sacrifice their ‘principles’ as so many have sacrificed their lives for the future of this country?

Is it again going to be party first country second?  


Sinn Féin by refusing to answer the call would further the return of the physical partition of Ireland – now there’s an irony or is it just plain double standards? 

JOHN-PATRICK BELL


Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim

Deferential politicians

As St Patrick’s Day beckons we may assume that arrangements are already in place to propel our ‘D-lister’ politicians to Washington. This will be a junket of ultimate double standards to pay homage to a man whose antics regarding Bombardier and Apple has put in jeopardy the jobs of many Irish citizens.


He will not be quoting Larkin about the brotherhood of man – for him there is no brotherhood of man. He has spawned a philosophy that it is every man for himself, so let’s have no nonsense about ‘special relationships’ between our two countries. As the mawkish bowl of shamrock is presented to the leader of the free world, let there be no doubt in the minds of those deferential politicians from Ireland that they are only participating in an act of fatuity.

WILSON BURGESS


Derry City

Political parrots

Over the last 30 years or so I have knocked on many doors in Fermanagh at election times and never heard the following mentioned: Irish unity or language, abstentionism or same-sex marriage. However, poor infrastructure, forced emigration, hospital waiting lists, mortgage difficulties, crime, social media abuse etc. were frequently highlighted. Surely it’s time for voters to start ignoring political parrots and focus on real needs.

JOHN ROONEY


Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh