They also said that “on a decision of such fundamental moral importance, every public representative is entitled to complete respect for the freedom of conscience. No one has the right to force or coerce someone to act against their conscience. Respect for this right is the very foundation of a free, civilised and democratic society.”
They encouraged “all to pray that our public representatives will be given the wisdom and courage to do what is right”.
The strongly-worded statement was issued late last night by Catholic primate and Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Seán Brady; Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin; Archbishop of Cashel Dermot Clifford and Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary.
They said yesterday’s “decision by the Government to legislate for abortion should be of the utmost concern to all”.
If what was “being proposed were to become law, the careful balance between the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child in current law and medical practice in Ireland would be fundamentally changed. It would pave the way for the direct and intentional killing of unborn children. This can never be morally justified in any circumstances.”
Unavoidable choice
The lives “of untold numbers of unborn children in this State now depend on the choices that will be made by our public representatives. The unavoidable choice that now faces all our public representatives is: will I chose to defend and vindicate the equal right to life of a mother and the child in her womb in all circumstances, or will I choose to license the direct and intentional killing of the innocent baby in the womb?”
They said “the decision of the Supreme Court in the X case unilaterally overturned the clear pro-life intention of the people of Ireland as expressed in article 40.3.3 of our Constitution. To legislate on the basis of such a flawed judgment would be both tragic and unnecessary.”
They continued: “The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights. It is the very basis for every other right we enjoy as persons.”