The Catholic Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey, has described as " a masterly piece of disinformation" advice that "if confused vote No" in the abortion referendum.
In a letter "to the Catholic people of the diocese of Ferns" yesterday, he said: "Some senior politicians tell us that the issues in this referendum are beyond our understanding. You can bet your life they won't be singing the same tune during the general election campaign in two months' time.
"In May, these same people will confront us with a pot-pourri of policies and programmes, many completely contradictory. It's amazing how intelligent and unconfused we'll suddenly be expected to become in two months' time."
He said that "for the second time in recent years - the Nice Referendum was the first - confusion is no longer a problem to be solved, but a deliberate strategy on the part of at least some in the No camp. Such advice does a great disservice to democracy," he said. It was "the most dangerous, the most misleading, the most nonsensical piece of advice being offered in the current referendum debate".
What was really being said was, "really, you are too stupid to know how to vote so vote the way I tell you to. You see, I'm not a bit confused."
"Such arrogance is really staggering," he said, and it's on every page and programme these days.
"The advice, 'if confused vote No' is today's great lie for another reason: it creates a false and very dangerous impression that a No vote is neutral, does nothing, leaves well enough alone. It does no such thing.
"A No vote leaves the judgment of the X case in place as the authoritative statement of the rights of the unborn, and strengthens the case of those who argue that the X case should be supported by enabling legislation," he said.
"A vote on March 6th may well be the last opportunity to make a positive statement in favour of the unborn. Last it may be, lost it need not, " he said.
They knew what the No side "are against but we do not know what they are for . . . surely the logic of the No side's argument would be to legislate for a similar regime to that in Britain, that is, abortion on demand so that no one need leave Ireland."
Asking all those who were confused to read the Referendum Commission's booklet and the Catholic bishops' document An Opportunity Not to be Lost, he said he would be voting Yes, "and after that I shall accept with serenity the decision of the people of Ireland".
The international Catholic For a Free Choice group has urged a No vote on Wednesday. In an advertisement in today's Irish Examiner, the group urges voters not to turn back the clock to the Dark Ages by denying suicidal women the right to an abortion in their own country.
In the run-up to the abortion referendum, the Irish Times website, ireland.com, will be offering comprehensive coverage of unfolding events, in addition to allowing readers to express their views on the proposals being put to the people. On March 7th there will be live coverage of the count as well as breaking news and reaction to the result.
