How one woman’s death pushed the Irish on abortion

How one woman's death pushed the Irish on abortion

By Nick Miller
25 May 2018

London: Five years ago Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old pregnant woman, died of blood poisoning in the middle of the night in a hospital in Galway, after staff had refused to consider terminating her pregnancy until she was almost beyond saving.

That young dentist’s death galvanised the country’s pro-choice forces into action and, if the polls are accurate, on Friday Ireland will vote to end its abortion ban in a historic referendum.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/how-one-woman-s-death-pushed-the-irish-on-abortion-20180523-p4zh4p.html

Ireland: Nuance and abortion: Churches, other faiths, and atheists differ

Nuance and abortion: Churches, other faiths, and atheists differ
All churches and faiths abhor abortion but most agree it can be the lesser evil

Patsy McGarry
Mon, Jan 29, 2018

It is highly unlikely Ireland’s Catholic and Protestant churches or its other faiths will take an active part in political campaigning leading up to the abortion referendum later this year.

They tend to avoid such campaigning in the main, apart from some individual clergy.

However, they will articulate their views in sermons or when asked by media, including being invited to take part in debates, and through their own leaflets, online and in other relevant publications.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/nuance-and-abortion-churches-other-faiths-and-atheists-differ-1.3371629?mode=amp

Ireland: Catholics have evolved in their thinking about abortion

Catholics have evolved in their thinking about abortion
Irish Catholics stand by women, and trust them to be moral agents of their own lives

Jan 15, 2018
Jon O'Brien

Ireland is undertaking a historic debate on abortion and the Eighth Amendment. A prominent voice in this debate will be the Catholic hierarchy. Just last week the Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin argued that even in instances of rape the Catholic position would be to deny a woman her right to end the pregnancy. He also called for the voices of Catholics to be heard.

On that I agree with him – Catholics must be respected, and their views on the Eighth Amendment should be heard. Where we disagree is on what Catholics might have to say.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/catholics-have-evolved-in-their-thinking-about-abortion-1.3356297

Irish abortion referendum will bring out the fanatics

Irish abortion referendum will bring out the fanatics

Cahir O'Doherty
January 14, 2018

The 1983 abortion referendum in Ireland was a circus.

I wasn't old enough to vote in the last major abortion referendum in Ireland in 1983, but I remember it well. It would be impossible not to, it was so toxic and shameful.

In particular I remember the atmosphere of undeclared civil war that had erupted by that summer, filling the airwaves with enraged fanatics. Whisper campaigns and innuendo flourished everywhere, insane conspiracy theories were being presented as fact.

Continued: https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/cahirodoherty/irish-abortion-referendum-brings-out-the-fanatics

Ireland: Archbishop urges Catholics to speak out against abortion

Archbishop urges Catholics to speak out against abortion
Eamon Martin asks the faithful to become ‘missionaries for life’ ahead of referendum

Sat, Jan 6, 2018
Michael Barry

The Catholic Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, has urged members of the Church to become “missionaries for the cause of life” in the run-up to the abortion referendum later this year.

In a pastoral message for 2018 released on Saturday, the archbishop said Catholics should ignore the “strong pressures to remain silent” and speak to their relatives, friends, colleagues, and public representatives about the importance of “cherishing the precious gift of life at all times from conception to natural death”.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/archbishop-urges-catholics-to-speak-out-against-abortion-1.3347360

06.01.2018