The Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, and Apostolic Administrator of
the diocese of Cloyne, Dr Dermot Clifford, has asked a County Cork based
priest to explain why he allowed a woman give an account of her
abortion and the upset it had caused at a children's Mass.Last Sunday, a pastoral letter on abortion was delivered to the country's 1,360 parishes.
In the letter, the Catholic Bishops of Ireland argued the Government, “is under no obligation,” to legislate for abortion as a result of a 2010 European Court of Human Rights ruling.
While the homily in almost all Irish Catholic churches was on the topic of pro-life, a Michelstown parish priest arranged a woman to give an account of her abortion and the regret she has since had over it, at a children’s Mass.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner newspaper, Archbishop Clifford said that he was, ”unhappy this speech took place.”
He confirmed that he had contacted Fr Fitzgerald about the speaker after he received complaints from parishioners who were disgusted the address was given in front of children.
In her talk at the children’s Mass, the woman gave a graphic account of her abortion and spoke of how she believed her special needs child is a punishment from God.
However speaking later in the day to local media, Fr Fitzgerald admitted that allowing this talk to at Mass, “was possibly bad judgement, and said that he did not expect the hurt it would cause."
He added, “I was contacted by an organisation (Rachel's Vineyard Organisation) who said they had a woman who could speak of her experience. At the time, I thought this is a story that not a lot of people get to hear. I knew the woman's story but I did not know what hurt it would cause."
“She explained to the congregation that it was the guilt inside of her that made her feel like that. She was hurt at the time. She had not yet healed after the abortion. A central theme of her address was that all human life is sacred, that all children are precious and should be equally cherished and supported. It is a matter of regret that a small number of people were upset at some aspects of the lady's address. I can assure you that was never intended.”
The Rachel's Vineyard Organisation was set up in the US by the pro-life Priests for Life Organisation. It provides counselling and retreats to women who have had abortions.