Sir, – Desmond M Clarke’s article on the ethics of abortion (Opinion, May 27th) fails to acknowledge that many people, including some atheists, are ethically opposed to abortion on non-religious grounds.
Biology shows us that an individual human life begins at conception, initiating a biological continuum of life that eventually ends in death (with any luck, in old age). Informed by this fact, many people feel motivated by a simple regard for the natural dignity of human life to oppose the deliberate destruction of life, even at the early stages of the continuum. – Yours, etc,
WILLIAM REVILLE
Emeritus Professor of
Biochemistry,
University College Cork.
Sir, – I believe Anthony Murphy (Opinion, May 28th) perhaps misunderstands the civic view on the Roman Catholic Church’s contributions to the abortion debate.
I do not object, nor do I know of anybody, who objects to bishops expressing the view of their church.
However, I must say our politicians have absolutely no legal or moral obligation to listen to the bishops. The Constitution enshrines the right of all citizens the right to free speech; it does not enshrine the right that any particular view expressed deserves to be listened to or respected.
This country knows all too well the tragedy of those who choose to follow canon law above civil law and thankfully that day is well and truly gone.
However, if your contributor, or any other person wishes to follow canon law above Irish civic law I would invite them to abscond to Vatican City, Rome, Italy and to leave those who wish to follow Irish law to the citizens of the Republic of Ireland! – Yours, etc,
SEAN CASSIDY,
St Laurence’s Road,
Dublin 20.