ARCHBISHOP Michael Neary, speaking at the Day for Life ceremonies in
Knock Basilica on Sunday, said legislators in Dail and Seanad Eireann
are being asked to pass a law prescribing the death of innocent human
beings. To sustained applause, he issued a direct appeal for members to reflect before exercising their vote.
“I ask that Legislators would reflect on the seriousness of the situation before voting. Is it really necessary to provide for Abortion in circumstances where evidence overwhelmingly indicates it is unnecessary and unjustified? Are we not crossing a moral Rubicon here?
“As Christians today we are faced with an urgent and formidable challenge. The moral and spiritual heritage of our people is under attack in a rather sinister way. Many of the values which for so long proved to be the foundation of Irish society are now presented as old-fashioned and outmoded. The sacredness of unborn life is one of them.
“The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights because it is the foundation of all other rights. The Catholic Church, in common with many Christians in other Churches and many of the great religious and moral traditions of humanity teaches that the direct and intentional killing of innocent human life at any stage from conception to natural death is gravely wrong.
“If the proposed legislation is enacted this will involve for the first time overturning in law the fundamental principles of the inviolability of innocent human life. We must ask ourselves if there is any other situation in life where the taking of an innocent life is seen as the solution to a problem?”
As pressure mounts on TDs and senators (especially Fine Gael) from concerned citizens across the country, the decision of Fianna Fail to allow a free vote has been widely welcomed by campaigners on the Pro-Life side.
Archbishop Neary said the current debate is not about the proper relationship between faith and politics.
“It is about our shared commitment as citizens and as human beings to a fundamental and universal human value: that the direct and intentional killing of an innocent person can never be justified. The right to life is such an inviolable right that no individual and no State may ever modify or destroy it.
“There is a great need to expose the half-truths, and misrepresentations about what we believe with regard to this issue. The Government is under no obligation to legislate for the X Case judgement, which includes suicidal ideation as a basis for the direct and intentional killing of the unborn.
“The Heads of Bill fail to adequately balance the right to life of the mother with that of the baby, something which current law and medical practice does and which has contributed to Ireland continuing to be one of the safest countries to carry an unborn baby through to birth.”