Irish leader brushes aside Pope’s warning on abortion law

January 09, 2013

Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny has voiced his dismissed a warning by Pope Benedict XVI against new moves to allow legal abortion.

Speaking shortly after a similar statement from his deputy, Eamon Gilmore, Kenny said that the Irish government’s motivation is to provide certainty for health-care workers in cases when a pregnancy threatens the life of the mother. (Actually, existing Irish law allows for the termination of pregnancy in cases in which the mother’s life is endangered.)

In an implicit acknowledgment of fears that a “health-of-the-mother” standard could quickly lead to legal acceptance of abortion on demand, Kenny claimed that his government want “to introduce regulations that restrict a move towards abortion on demand, particularly in the case where suicide is involved."

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Taoiseach dismisses Pope's 'dismay' at abortion remedy (Irish Independent)
• Irish deputy prime minister disagrees with Pope's stand against legal abortion (CWN, 1/8)