A newly formed alliance of pro-life campaigners yesterday called for a No vote in the abortion referendum.
The Alliance for All Life, which represents organisations as diverse as the Christian Democrats and the National Union of Mothers of Ireland, said the referendum had caused an extraordinary level of confusion, distress and division, particularly to "sincere committed pro-life people".
At the launch of their campaign for a No vote in Dublin yesterday, Ms Theresa Heaney of the National Union of Mothers of Ireland described the referendum as fundamentally flawed and said there were too many uncertainties in its wording to support it. She urged people to vote No to maintain the status quo.
"All pro-life groups had sought a referendum that would give the electorate a clear choice on abortion. They have been denied this choice. Instead they have been presented with a highly subjective proposal which is wide open to interpretation by all shades of opinion," she said.
"Pro-life people are being manipulated and threatened with a proposal that is profoundly violative of democratic principles. It is designed to intimidate voters into accepting something that is unsatisfactory and potentially disastrous, under the threat of getting something worse.
"The human rights of women and girls and unborn babies are too important to trust to widespread confusion, uncertainties and unanswered questions."
Ms Nora Bennis of the Christian Democrats described the morning- after pill as a "toxic chemical" and said the Alliance was opposed to its use. The Alliance does not accept suicide as a ground for abortion.
"We have worked out what this Bill is about and we don't like it," Ms Bennis said.
Among the many other groups which have joined the alliance are the Irish Civil Rights Association, Christian Women's Federation and Mayo for Life.
They have called on the Government to offer the people an amendment that would allow pro-life people say a clear No to abortion, providing legal protection for all human life from the moment of fertilisation.