Madam, - In view of the fact that the Labour Party voted to make liberal abortion part of its party policy at its 2003 annual conference, I was shocked to see party activists outside Catholic Churches over recent weekends seeking support for their candidates in the local and European elections. And although Labour is now a pro-abortion party, it seems strangely reluctant to make this fact known in its campaign literature.
Time and again American bishops have courageously confronted pro-abortion candidates and parties in the US elections, pointing out Church teaching which makes it a grave offence to vote for those who support deliberate abortion. Paragraph after paragraph of the "Declaration on Procured Abortion" issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and ratified by Pope Paul VI clearly indicates that it was drawn up, not only to repeat once again Catholic teaching on abortion itself, but also the grave and clear duties resulting for Catholic voters in the democracies of today.
What can be inhibiting the Irish Hierarchy from ensuring that the faithful are made fully aware of this teaching? - Yours, etc.,
JULIE CONNOLLY,
Beneavin Road,
Finglas,
Dublin 11.