The referendum is simple rather than confusing - a Yes vote halts any move towards the liberal availability of abortion, writes John Samuel
May I make a plea to anyone who has not yet decided how they will vote. The issue is clear, not confused. If we want to stop abortion in this country, we will vote Yes in the referendum.
If we want to open the door to widespread abortion, then we will vote No or not vote at all. The point at issue is whether we want to stop the tide of liberal abortion sweeping into Ireland. That is the point on which history will judge the Irish people in future generations.
In the 1970s as a law student in England I made a special study of the arguments surrounding the 1967 Abortion Act. The proponents of the 1967 Abortion Act claimed they were trying stamp out backstreet abortions. They claimed they had no intention of bringing in abortion on demand, but that is what resulted.
The Abortion Act 1967 had a flaw in its wording, which was exploited to the full by the "pro-choice" lobby. Once you could argue that continuing a pregnancy to term was a greater risk to the mother's health than an early abortion, the floodgates were open.
If there is a No vote this time, the same kind of thing will eventually happen here, using psychiatrists as the people with the magic key to unlock the gates to abortion on demand. That's the fatal flaw in the Irish context. It will be exploited to the full in the event of a No vote.
Don't let them confuse you. Some people are saying that if you're not sure, vote No. Surely if you are not sure, you should either do some more research or not vote at all.
Don't let them confuse you. All kinds of issues are being thrown into the melting pot. Like the legal status of the morning-after pill; like the suggestion that it's hypocritical to outlaw abortion here when you can always get it in England; like whether legislation is more appropriate than a constitutional amendment.
This last one is a complete red herring. Of course legislation is needed. It is provided for, but what better place to ensure the protection of the unborn than the constitution. It is already there, but this amendment is needed to ensure that the X case does not drive a coach and horses through the constitution.
Let me tell you what I reckon will happen if this amendment is not passed. Medical and general opinion in this country is shifting towards a view that abortion should be allowed if a pregnant woman claims that she will commit suicide. If there is a No vote, in a few years from now it will be common practice for psychiatrists to be approached by a pregnant woman and to be asked to confirm that she is suicidal and so should be allowed an abortion under the X case ruling.
It will soon become known which psychiatrists are sympathetic to such cases. Through the back door, abortion on demand will creep into Ireland. Let's not be naive. That's exactly what happened in England.
Where am I coming from in relation to the abortion issue? Not from a political angle - I have no party-political allegiance - but from a Christian angle. I submit to God's written word, the Bible, as the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The Bible is clear beyond a shadow of doubt that murder is wrong (Exodus 20:13 & Romans 13:9). It is equally clear that human life at the unborn stage is truly human (Psalm 139:13-16 & Luke 1:39-45) and thus deserves full protection.
I am sorry to see so-called pro-life posters telling us to vote No. This is the best chance we'll ever get for a truly historic pro-life protection of the unborn in Ireland. I want us to achieve as much as possible to protect the life of the unborn in Ireland. I want us to avoid the mistakes of the British and most of the rest of Europe.
The question is whether the Irish people will have the collective courage to take a brave stand against the sweeping tide of liberal abortion. A Yes vote will put in place strong sea-defences against that damaging tide. A No vote will leave us wide open to the gradual erosion witnessed in so many other countries.
This is a personal opinion. Baptist churches have no hierarchy. They are independent congregations. Each member is encouraged to act and to vote in accordance with the clear teaching of the Bible and the dictates of conscience.
John Samuel studied law at Cam- bridge University. He is married to a doctor and they have three children. For the past nine years he has been pastor of Grosvenor Road Baptist Church in Rath- mines, Dublin, the largest Baptist church in the Republic.