Sir, - It seems ironic that our welcome for the move to outlaw the execution of criminals should coincide with demands to facilitate the execution of the most innocent and helpless of our kind.
I am referring to Medb Ruane's column in your issue of July 6th.
I have been in a position to witness the end products of abortion and wonder how, under any circumstances, she could regard this barbaric procedure as compassionate.
She proposes the increasing demand for abortion as justification to facilitate its easy access and availability. At the same time she ignores the real cause of this increase.
It must surely be that in this modern age, intemperance and sexual promiscuity are presented to our young people as socially acceptable, cool, and sophisticated. This inevitably leads to an increase in unwanted pregnancies with consequent demand for abortion.
Was it not Albert Einstein who wrote, "When man loses respect for life at any stage he loses respect for the whole of life"?
How prophetic were his words. Not too long ago, the incidence of murder in this country was rare. Now it is almost a daily occurrence. Rape, child abuse and infidelity are rampant. The compassionists campaigning for euthanasia are set to ensure that many of our old and infirm will soon share the fate of those millions of aborted babies worldwide.
In the light of all of this, we bequeath to future generations our culture of gross immorality and devaluation of human life - a legacy for which, surely, they can never forgive us. - Yours, etc.,
Sheila Lane, R.G.N. S.C.M., Marsham Court, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.