The Irish Catholic reports today that Father Kevin Doran has
resigned from the board of the Mater Hospital following its decision to comply
with the government’s new abortion legislation and that Archbishop Diarmuid
Martin is to seek clarification from the Mater Hospital on the exact meaning of
their statement. (See previous report on the Mater Hospital statement.)
The Journal also reports as follows;
A PRIEST HAS resigned from the board of the Mater Hospital
in Dublin following its decision to say it will comply with the government’s
abortion legislation when it comes into effect.
Prominent Dublin priest Father Kevin Doran has told The
Irish Catholic that he cannot reconcile his own conscience with a statement
from the hospital last week that it will comply with the law.
“Largely because I feel a Catholic hospital has to bear
witness,” he told the paper. “It’s about bearing witness to Gospel values
alongside providing excellent care.”
Doran’s resignation from the Mater Hospital Board and Board
of Governors comes ahead of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013
coming into force, though this may not happen until next year as this website
reported last week.
The Act will allow for abortions in cases where there is a
risk to the life of a woman as a result of her pregnancy, including risk of
suicide. It was passed and signed into law over the summer after lengthy debate
in the Dáil, Seanad and wider society.
Meanwhile, The Irish Catholic also reports that that the
Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, is to see clarification from the
hospital on the “exact meaning” of the statement from the Mater last week.
A spokeswoman told the paper: “He [Martin] believes the
hospital has always been ‘scrupulous’ in trying to defend both the life of
mother and the unborn child and the hospital has a great tradition of caring
for very difficult pregnancies and doing it well within the ethos of the
hospital over many years.
“He will seek further clarification on the exact meaning of
the hospital’s statement issued last week.”
