Catholic Church pamphlet says claim of no change to law on abortion ‘untrue’

Concerted campaign by church to prevent legislation begins

Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin: accused of scaremongering by Catholic theologian Prof Seán Freyne. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin: accused of scaremongering by Catholic theologian Prof Seán Freyne. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

A newsletter being circulated by the Catholic Communications Office at Maynooth says it is “untrue” to state “that there is no change to the law on abortion in Ireland” being planned by the Government.

It adds: “If there was no change this legislation (Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill) would not have been published. The proposed legislation gives practical effect to the X case decision which permits abortion up to birth where suicide is threatened. Ireland is about to cross a fundamental moral rubicon – the direct and intentional killing of the innocent.”

In this newspaper last Friday Catholic theologian Prof Seán Freyne challenged the Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin on this matter.

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry is a contributor to The Irish Times