Labour Minister of State Seán Sherlock was
responding to Coadjutor Archbishop Eamonn Martin’s comments that anyone
who clearly and publicly said they supported abortion should not
approach a priest for Communion.
Archbishop Martin, who will succeed Cardinal
Seán Brady, said he had never refused anyone Communion but he asked how
could anyone who knowingly introduced abortion legislation receive
Communion still believing they were part of the church, in an interview
with the
Sunday Times
.
Mr Sherlock responded by saying: “I find it
absolutely and utterly hypocritical when the church has allowed
perpetrators of abuse against children to receive Communion. The church should carefully consider its position before making incendiary statements of this kind.”
Abortion hearings
Meanwhile, 15 experts will today address the Oireachtas health committee’s ongoing hearings on abortion, including 11 psychiatrists, an oncologist and a cardiologist.
The chairman of the Mental Health Commission
and the president of the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation will
also speak at the meeting, on the second of three days of hearings on
the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.
The main focus of the 10 hours of proceedings
today will again be on suicide and its inclusion in the legislation, the
heads or general proposals of which form the basis for the discussion.
The full legislation will be drafted after the report on the hearings is
published and considered and is expected to be debated in the Dáil and
Seanad next month.
Experts in adult, child and adolescent and
perinatal psychiatry from across the State will give evidence during the
four sessions, from 9.30am to 8.45pm. Several previously attended the
abortion hearings in January, including perinatal psychiatrists Dr Joanne Fenton, Dr Anthony McCarthy and Dr John Sheehan.
On Friday obstetricians gave evidence and were
questioned by TDs and Senators. Legal experts will give testimony
tomorrow.
The committee decided to confine these hearings to medical and
legal experts, and no church or advocacy groups were invited.