Ireland’s Catholic bishops have criticized the government for “changing the narrative” on abortion.
A message was sent out this morning to people attending fairs across the country.
The two-page document, titled “Abortion: Changing the Narrative,” will also be distributed to churches to mark the fifth anniversary of the referendum, reports RTE.
The bishop’s statement follows the government’s decision to submit a recently published review of the abortion law – which includes proposals for reforming the law – to the Joint Health Committee of the Oireachtas.
In the document, Ireland’s Catholic bishops say they remain confident that the Termination of Pregnancy (Healthcare) Act 2018 will be repealed in due course.
In it, they welcome statements from some Oireachtas members who do not want the current law to be liberalised.
“We will continue, however, to encourage a greater political acceptance that abortion is not the solution to a crisis pregnancy,” they said, reports RTE.
Among the issues addressed in the document is the three-day waiting period between the first medical consultation and termination.
The bishops reject this proposal because they believe it would weaken the protections for women and children.
Nor do they accept the proposal to extend the 12 week period in certain circumstances
Meanwhile they admits that it is unclear how many GPs do not perform abortions for reasons of conscience, they say this figure is “certainly much higher than the 26% suggested in the review”, reports RTE.
Regarding the proposed safe-entry zone laws, they say “not the action of a State which purports to present itself as having liberal-democratic values”, reports RTE.
They believe that those who “conscientiously oppose abortion as a crime against humanity” must be free to “express their concerns in a respectful non-violent manner” publicly, reports RTE.
Ms O’Shea’s review found that criminalizing doctors when the reasons are not clear enough is a barrier to access to abortion.
The Catholic bishops of Ireland rejected this proposal on the grounds that “nobody should be above the law when it comes to protecting human life”, reports RTE.
The document encourages people of faith to confidently share their views on protecting life at home, at work and among friends.
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