The Irish Catholic bishops, in a statement following their Winter General Meeting in Maynooth, said they were dismayed that, for the most part, the voices of those who voted against abortion in May’s referendum have been ignored.
They highlighted how “reasonable” proposals for legislative amendments to the bill, such as the prohibition of abortion on the grounds of sex, race or disability, had been rejected.
The bishops also expressed concern over the bill’s erosion of the right of conscientious objection for all healthcare professionals and pharmacists. “They cannot be forced either to participate in abortion or to refer patients to others for abortion,” they warned.
Separately, Bishop Kevin Doran has called on doctors, nurses, teachers and pharmaceutical workers to “resist” the new abortion regime.
Bishop Kevin Doran said the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill had no moral force and ought to be resisted. “Catholics have no obligation whatsoever to obey this law,” he told the Irish Independent.
He said the bishops “absolutely support the right of doctors and nurses and midwives, not only not to perform abortions, but not to be required under the law to refer their patients”, even though this will bring them into conflict with the law.
His view was echoed by former Taoiseach, John Bruton, who warned that no person, medically qualified or otherwise, should be forced by the threat to his/her employment, or of criminal sanctions, to be involved in the ending of a human life, against his or her religious convictions.
In a speech delivered at the Irish Catholic Doctors’ Learning Network Annual Conference in Swords, Co Dublin, last weekend, Mr Bruton said a law that forces someone to take part in, or to facilitate, an action that that person believes is contrary to a deeply held religious conviction could be in conflict with Article 44.2.1 of the Irish Constitution.
“That aspect of the Bill should be changed. The concept of ‘aiding and abetting’ a crime is well understood in Irish law. The Bill requires a doctor, who has a conscientious objection to doing an abortion herself, to “make arrangements to transfer the care” of the woman to a doctor who will do it. This could certainly be construed as aiding and abetting the abortion, and there is no conscience clause here either.”
Under the terms of the legislation, medical professionals who fail to make the referral will be deemed to be committing a criminal offence.
PAT SAYS:
The Irish people have spoken about the abortion issue and the Irish Government must put that vote into legislation.
Amy Martin of Armagh says that no one is listening to those who lost the vote! Amy must have being off school the day that his classmates studied civics and politics – where they would have learned that the voices who are listened to in a vote are the MAJORITY of those who voted.
I am not pro abortion – far from it!
But I cannot force my religious views and my denominational outlook on all my fellow citizens.
THE CATHOLIC DOCTORS:
There are a group of RC doctors and medical professionals who are whinging that they cannot be enforced to put Irish law into effect because of their RC conscience.
If they are prepared to take Euro 120,000 plus from a state that allows abortions they should do what their employer tells them to do.
Or – if they do not like their job description – let them have the authenticity to resign and get a job elsewhere!
If they refuse to carry out their employer’s job description – let them simply be sacked!
CHURCH ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BREAK THE LAW:
Could Eamon Martin and Kevin Doran be breaking the law by encouraging people to resist the law?
If they are – the authorities should act against them.
And if there are no laws on the statute book to deal with this – bring in new laws.
The Irish Catholic bishops have ruled and tyrannised this country for hundreds of years.
The Irish Government should protect its citizens from this tyranny.
The Irish bishops are, and have been, moral and social terrorists!
ANOTHER RC BISHOP – CORRUPTION AND SEX
INDIAN BISHOP STOLE CHURCH MONEY TO BUY HIS CONCUBINE AND THEIR SON VARIOUS PROPERTIES.
Pope Francis accepted on December 10 the resignation of Cuddapah Bishop Prasad Gallela, 56, South East India.
Two Catholics had filed a criminal complaint against him in a court in Andhra Pradesh. One of them, Mesa Ravi Kumar, 40, alleged that Gallela used funds from overseas donations and money meant for public welfare to buy properties for his concubine and a 20-year-old son who is now in college.
Kumar showed 24 documents such as a 12-digit unique identification number identifying Gallela as the husband of his alleged wife.
According to priests of the diocese, Gallela used to spend less than a week a month at the bishop’s house. Nobody knew where he was during the rest of the time. Gallela said the woman was his late brother’s widow.
In April 2016 Gallela was kidnapped and beaten by some of his own priests, and released after a ransom was paid.