Sir, - It must be a new experience for Peter de Rosa (December 20th) to attack the Catholic bishops on the alleged grounds that they have adopted a stance on abortion at variance with the teaching of the Pope and the Catholic Church. His fears, I am glad to assure him, are groundless, undoubtedly due to a misunderstanding of the legislation.
It is quite clear from the legislation itself, from the Taoiseach's answers to Dβil questions and from the Bishops' comments, that the proposal does not in any way lessen existing protections for the unborn under Article 40.3.3.
Because of Article 40.3.3, the State has not signed the Convention on Human Rights and Bio-medicine. Why? Because that convention allows experimentation on human embryos contrary to the Irish Constitution.
The Government's proposal deals with abortion only from implantation. A criminal act must be specific and it is after implantation that the existence of a pregnancy can be detected by normal tests. The Irish bishops' views on abortifacients and the protection of life prior to implantation are crystal clear. However, they have nothing to do with this proposal and are unaffected by it.
When the referendum is carried, areas of injustice to the unborn child consequent on the 1992 court decision will be removed. Mr de Rosa can then campaign for extra protection for human life prior to implantation, which can be done by legislation only without the need for a referendum. - Yours, etc.,
Niamh Roche, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.