Madam, – Dr Peadar O’Grady of Doctors for Choice (December 23rd) insists that abortion is simply a social and political question. Strikingly, he seems to be unaware of the fact that abortion is also – and more fundamentally – a moral question.
Moral questions fall within the ambit of philosophical and theological reflection – not sociological or political expediency. As regards questions of life, right philosophical reason is all that is required to figure out that human personhood is present from the point of conception of a human being. Religious revelation is not needed, although it can and does aid people in discerning the obvious, namely the absolute moral prohibition on intentionally killing innocent human life.
Attempts to depict a pro-life position as purely “Catholic or right-wing Christian dogma,” while no doubt a very good form of propaganda, do not contribute anything rational to the debate concerning how best to cultivate life at all of its stages. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Last week Senator Joe O’Toole demanded that the Minister for Foreign Affairs send a cable of protest to Cardinal Brady in Armagh (Home News, December 18th).
The Cardinal had issued a mild press statement in response to the European Court of Human Rights ruling on abortion in which he said the judgment raises “profound moral and legal issues which will require careful analysis and reflection”.
The church should stick to “the praying” was the Senator’s response. Perhaps he could clarify. Is it only Catholic bishops who should not contribute to national debate? Is it only bishops north of the border who should keep quiet? Are lay Catholics allowed to voice an opinion? Should the Catholic Church only articulate its position on issues when in agreement with Senator O’Toole?
In recent months Catholic bishops and agencies have commented on the condition of Irish prisoners overseas, care for the dying, alcohol and drug abuse, the need for solidarity with the poor at a time of national crisis, the state of mental health care, and the condition of our prisons. Should it stop this too and just stick to the “the praying”?
Senator O’Toole suggests the church shows a lack of interest in the welfare of women. What an insult to the hundreds of lay volunteers who work with Cura, the crisis pregnancy agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference. These volunteers staff 19 centres around Ireland providing free counselling to women, including post-abortion counselling.
He also accused the church of peddling fundamentalism. However, the only fundamentalism on show last week was from Senator O’Toole himself. In suggesting that the Catholic Church be rebuked for daring to contribute to a national debate he appeared to be proposing a republic with limited freedom and tolerance.
A far cry from Voltaire’s vow to defend to death the right of his opponent to free speech, the Senator’s contribution was more suited to an argument in a pub than a debate in Oireachtas Éireann. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I have been puzzled by Prof William Binchy’s perverse reading of the European Court of Human Rights judgment on Ireland’s failing to implement its own decisions as a call for a referendum. Every country does indeed have a right to determine its own legal policy in this area, and Ireland has done so. It is troubling that strongly-held opinion has in this case meant his losing sight of what it means to legislate for the sovereign decision of the people, which is that a pregnant woman whose life is in danger has the right to an abortion in this State.
In practice, a country that respects human rights must also adhere to international norms, and not favour “an unborn” over an existing person.
Let the people grant rights to whatever entities it likes, but it is not morally acceptable to favour these other entities over people who actually exist and whose life is threatened by the rights given to beings incapable of independent existence.
On a separate point, I would also question the claim that Ireland has the best record in the world when it comes to medical care for mothers, at least when this is used as an anti-abortion argument, as clearly, Ireland exports its problematic cases for someone else to deal with, having traumatised many of those women along the way. – Yours, etc,