Irish primate promises vigorous fight against legalizing abortion

August 27, 2012

Any effort to legalize abortion in Ireland will be “vigorously and comprehensively opposed,” the Catholic Primate of All Ireland has promised.

Speaking in Waterford, Cardinal Sean Brady said that there is no need for the Irish government to change abortion law in order to conform to the 2010 judgment of a European court. The court acknowledged the authority of the Irish government to ban abortion, he noted.

In light of a government plan to reconsider the country’s legislation on the issue, Cardinal Brady said, it is important that Catholics “prepare with others to defend the equal right to life of a mother and child against any effort to introduce abortion to a country which is one of the safest places in the world for mothers who are expecting a child.”

The cardinal added that Catholics must “have the courage to make our voices heard” in the forthcoming public date. Traditional moral principles regarding the sanctity of life “cannot be relegated to the realm of private religious beliefs,” he said.

 

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Further information:

• Abortion legislation will be opposed - cardinal (Irish Times)
• Cardinal's plea on abortion debate (Belfast Telegraph)
• Cardinal Brady says abortion legislation would be "vigorously opposed by many" (Irish Central)