Irish bishops lend support to children’s-rights amendment opposed by some pro-life activists

November 06, 2012

Less than a week before a November 10 plebiscite, the bishops of Ireland have issued a statement lending support to a proposed children’s rights amendment to the nation’s constitution.

Some Irish pro-life and pro-family advocates have opposed the amendment, with the head of Human Life International Ireland saying that it gives “carte blanche to the State to do whatever it wants, and parents will be helpless.” The proposed amendment states:

In exceptional cases, where the parents, regardless of their marital status, to such an extent that the safety or welfare of any of their children is likely to be prejudicially affected, the State as guardian of the common good shall, by proportionate means as provided by law, endeavour to supply the place of the parents, but always with due regard for the natural and imprescriptible rights of the child.

Provision shall be made by law for the adoption of any child where the parents have failed for such a period of time as may be prescribed by law in their duty towards the child and where the best interests of the child so require.

“As bishops we share the concern of others to ensure that the proposed amendment on children does not undermine the rights of parents and the presumptive place of the family, based on marriage between a woman and a man, as the unit in which the welfare and rights of children are best exercised and safeguarded,” the bishops said in their statement.

“However, when read in conjunction with the unaltered constitutional provisions on the family and education, the wording of the Thirty-First Amendment on Children suggests that a reasonable and balanced approach to framing the proposed new article on children’s rights has been taken,” the bishops added. “While the possibility of unintended consequences is always present in the context of Constitutional change, it is clear that the wording of the proposed amendment on children is not intended to undermine the current Constitutional balance between the rights of parents and children, or between parents and the State.”

“If unforeseen or unintended consequences do emerge in time, the remedy of further Constitutional amendment or amending legislation is available to mitigate the consequences of any such developments.”

 

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Further information:

• Irish Bishops statement on Children Referendum (Kildare and Leighlin Diocese)
• On the Irish Referendum on Parent's Rights (Zenit)
• Irish ‘Children’s Rights’ referendum poses major threat to families/parents, say critics (LifeSiteNews.com)
• Irish children's rights referendum, 2012 (Wikipedia)