Sir, - Now that the divisive abortion referendum campaigns are over, perhaps Yes and No supporters could combine in a contraception campaign to reduce the number of crisis pregnancies leading to abortions abroad.
In an ideal world, no couple, whether married or not, should have unprotected sex unless they are prepared to care for a child for the next 18 to 20 years. So let's get the message across.. Contraception is cheap and easy compared with the money needed and the mental and physical strain involved in obtaining an abortion.
How about a well planned six-week campaign, complete with lamp-post posters, informative leaflets, public meetings and radio and television news coverage and discussion? - Yours, etc.,
Florence Road,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
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Sir, - Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, March 8th) bugs me into replying. I found it full of a crowing attitude, and some venom against the losers in the referendum.
He opened with a reference to "the combined forces of Fianna Fáil and the Catholic Church" being beaten for the first time on a moral issue. I'm not too concerned about FF being beaten. I am, though, about the Catholic Church, which has always stood up for the natural law and Catholic morality. I am with it all the way. While admitting that the result can be interpreted in different ways, he talks about sectarianism and the Church's control of politics.
Not everyone would agree with me, but I think the Catholic Church rightly holds that Catholic people should have their faith reflected, to some degree, in the civil laws of the country. He says the church has lost its grip. Maybe that could be put more accurately: many people no longer accept church teaching, or at least all of it.
What the result says, in my view, is that for compassion's sake we should have a little abortion, and that is where the country sets out on the slippery slope. It happened in every country whose people thought, sought and obtained the same thing.
The breakaway Pro-lifers lost the referendum. We are now left with a little abortion available and we all know where that will take us. Let those who wish continue to crow over their so-called victory. I believe there will always be a core group in Irish society who are ready to stand up for true Catholic moral principles, especially where the unborn's right to life is concerned, with women's equal right to life guaranteed, but not their right to choose. Pro-life may have suffered a setback, but if it is anything it is resilient. - Yours, etc.,
BILL LOOBY
Westfield Park,
Limerick.
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Sir, - I wish to express my utter dissatisfaction with the administration of the abortion referendum.
Having moved to Galway two years ago, I applied to join the supplementary register of electors before the referendum deadline.
On the eve of the referendum, I travelled from Dublin to cast my vote, but found on arrival that I had not received a polling card. I rang Galway Corporation the next day, and I was told my lack of a polling card was immaterial, as my name was on the electors' register.
When I turned up at my local polling station that evening, however, the relevant returning officers told me that my name was not on their lists.
For 15 minutes I argued to the officials present that I had a right to vote, as confirmed to me by the corporation. As they continued to insist that my name was not registered, I felt powerless, and left in anger.
Next morning I went to City Hall, where an employee showed me where my name was on the supplementary register. She told me the returning officers had overlooked my name.
As a first-time voter in the Republic, I feel disillusioned with our supposed democracy. Moreover, I believe that the result of this referendum is worthless while the system is plagued with such inefficiencies. - Is mise,
DÓNAL Mac An AILÍN,
Páirc na Coirbe,
An Caisleán Nua,
Cathair na Gaillimhe.