Three women volunteers dismissed five years ago by Cura, the Catholic Church's pregnancy agency, have been reinstated with an apology.The women were among four volunteers who refused to distribute leaflets they said gave contact numbers for abortion referrals.
The resolution of the bitter row, which caused deep divisions within the Bishops' Conference, is announced in today's Irish Independent.
"The National Executive Council of CURA is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with Phil Murray, Mary Kelly, Ann Farren -- three volunteers of its Letterkenny Centre," the apology reads.
"The volunteers have been re-instated as members of CURA and have now resumed functions. .
"CURA wishes to apologise to each of the volunteers for the distress caused and looks forward with gratitude to their continuing commitment to the work of this organisation."
Last night a spokesman for the three women could not be contacted.
The controversy made headlines in 2005 when four women publicly questioned the agency's distribution of a 'Positive Options' leaflet.
Last night the Irish Independent learned the reinstatement of the women followed the intervention of the Vatican which ruled that in canon law they had a moral duty to point out the immorality of abortion.
The fourth woman, Pauline Roarty, had previously decided to retire from Cura.
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