“International experience” has shown that attempts to legalize
abortion in Ireland in “limited” cases, including where women threaten
suicide, would quickly “open the floodgates” for abortion on demand, the
Catholic bishops of Ireland have said in a new statement.
“A society that believes the right to life is the most fundamental of
all rights cannot ignore the fact that abortion is first and foremost a
moral issue,” the bishops said in the statement, issued the day after
10,000 pro-lifers rallied in Dublin.
“As a society we have a particular
responsibility to ensure this right is upheld on behalf of those who are
defenceless, voiceless or vulnerable. This
includes our duty as a society to defend and promote the equal right to
life of a pregnant mother and the innocent and defenceless child in her
womb when the life of either of these persons is at risk.”
The bishops were responding to the release of the report by the
government’s “expert group” on whether a ruling from the European Court
of Human Rights requires Ireland to change its laws to allow abortion.
The group’s report was released a week ago, and said that abortion
should be considered “medical treatment” for pregnant women. It
recommended that the government bring in legislation allowing “limited”
abortion.
“The judgment of the European Court of Human Rights does not oblige
the Irish Government to legislate for abortion,” the bishops argue in
their statement.
The bishops said the government report is faulty in that it failed to
include other options allowed by the ECHR, including the option of a
constitutional prohibition on abortion or a constitutional amendment to
reverse the ‘X-case’ judgment.
“The Report provides no ethical analysis of the options available,”
the bishops said, “even though this is first and foremost a moral issue
and consideration of the ethical dimension was included in [its] Terms
of Reference”.
Further, the bishops warned, the report fails to consider the risks
in legislating for “limited abortion,” including creating an open field
for abortion on demand under the pretext of the “threat of suicide.”
“International experience shows that allowing abortion on the grounds
of mental health effectively opens the floodgates for abortion.” The
bishops said that it is the unborn child’s “common humanity” that makes
his life equal in value to that of the mother. “They have an equal right
to life.”
“The Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother.”
In the rare cases where a seriously ill pregnant woman needs medical
treatment that may be a threat to the life of her child, “such
treatments are morally permissible provided every effort has been made
to save the life of both the mother and her baby.”
This principle is known as the “principle of double effect,” which says
where there is no direct intention to harm the child, a medical
intervention is allowable that could cause a “secondary and unintended
effect” of the death of the child. This is universally understood in the
pro-life movement as being in no way analogous to abortion.
The bishops reiterated this principle, saying, “Abortion, understood
as the direct and intentional destruction of an unborn baby, is gravely
immoral in all circumstances.
“This is different from medical treatments which do not directly and intentionally seek to end the life of the unborn baby.”
Citing the current law and medical guidelines of Ireland, they said
nurses and doctors in Irish hospitals may in good conscience “apply this
vital distinction in practice”.
“This has been an important factor in ensuring that Irish hospitals
are among the safest and best in the world in terms of medical care for
both a mother and her unborn baby during pregnancy. As a country this is
something we should cherish, promote and protect.”
They warned that the expert group’s report has made suggestions for
legislating to allow “limited” abortion that “could end the practice of
making this vital ethical distinction in Irish hospitals”.
Three of the four options presented by the report include legalised
abortion, “the direct and intentional killing of an unborn child”.
“This can never be morally justified,” the bishops said.
The bishops said that the option of changing medical practice
guidelines to “ensure consistency in the delivery of medical treatment”
may be permissible, but only provided that any changes completely
exclude the introduction of abortion.
“If guidelines can provide greater clarity as to when life-saving
treatment may be provided to a pregnant mother or her unborn child
within the existing legislative framework, and where the direct and
intentional killing of either person continues to be excluded, then such
ethically sound Guidelines may offer a way forward.”
They called for “sufficient time for a calm, rational and informed
debate” and repeated that “abortion is gravely immoral in all
circumstances, no matter how ‘limited’ access to abortion may be”.
The bishops are asking all Catholic parishes in both Northern Ireland
and the Republic to promote prayer to keep Ireland free of abortion.
They included the web address www.chooselife2012.ie for their new
dedicated website and “social media presence,” Choose Life 2012 on
Facebook, and @Chooselife2012 on Twitter and, on YouTube.
They asked pro-life people throughout the country to pray: “Lord
Jesus, you are the source and lover of life. Reawaken in us respect for
every human life. Help us to see in each child the marvellous work of
our Creator.
“Open our hearts to welcome every child as a unique and wonderful
gift. Guide the work of doctors, nurses and midwives. May the life of a
mother and her baby in the womb be equally cherished and respected.
“Help those who make our laws to uphold the uniqueness and sacredness
of every human life, from the first moment of conception to natural
death. Give us wisdom and generosity to build a society that cares for
all.
“Together with Mary, your Mother, in whose womb you took on our human
nature, help us to choose life in every decision we take. We ask this
in the joyful hope of eternal life with you, and in the communion of the
Blessed Trinity.
“Our Lady of Knock, pray for us. All the Saints of Ireland, pray for us.