ELN submission to Citizens' Assembly

European Life Network in a submission to the Citizens' Assembly has appealed for the retention of the 8th amendment and has included a link to the video prepared in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children as set out below

Appeal to uphold and cherish the 8^th Amendment: with video link

European Life Network calls on the Citizens’ Assembly to uphold the 8th Amendment and reject all attempts to legalise the killing of unborn children. In support of this appeal, we have prepared a video presentation (produced in partnership with the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) featuring Irish people, and people of Irish descent, with specialised knowledge and personal experience of these issues. We ask the Assembly to view this video, available here: 

https://www.spuc.org.uk/news/videos/new/2016/november/act-now-protect-ireland-pro-life-8th-amendment

Despite false claims, the 8th Amendment simply recognises that unborn babies have a right to life equal to that of their mothers. Ireland’s maternal health record, among the best in the world, also reflects the fact that Irish doctors are trained to treat a mother and her unborn child as two equal patients. 

In this presentation, Raymond Cardinal Burke argues that a clause similar to the 8th Amendment should be in the constitution of every nation. He notes the dedication of Ireland’s Constitution to “the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom, is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred”. Through this dedication, Ireland provides a great example of a correctly ordered society.

Dr Patrick Fagan (Director of Marriage and Religion Research Institute) argues that when a nation starts to eliminate pain and suffering by eliminating people, there is no logical place to draw a line. Even limited relaxation of abortion law leads inevitably to widespread abortion. In the UK, the Abortion Act 1967, was not intended to introduce abortion on demand. Fifty years on, more than 8.4 million babies have been aborted. 

Evidence shows that abortion is physically and psychologically damaging, no matter where it takes place. Bernadette Goulding (Director of Rachel’s Vineyard, Ireland) who had an abortion herself, describes the trauma millions of women around the world have experienced following abortion. 

Former MEP’s Dana Rosemary Scallon and Kathy Sinnott highlight the huge international pressure on Ireland to introduce abortion.

Kathy Sinnott contrasts the terminal decline of European states as a result of low birthrates with the situation in Ireland. The repeal of the 8th Amendment would propel Ireland towards a similar demographic collapse. She also argues that seeking to dispose of children with life-limiting conditions or serious disabilities is modern day eugenics. 

Rebecca Kiessling, who was conceived in a violent rape, challenges the inherent injustice of punishing innocent babies for the crimes of their biological fathers.

Cliona Johnson tells the heart-rending story of her son John Paul who lived 17 minutes after birth. Their story offers a truthful and inspiring account of authentic compassion for the most vulnerable of all – unborn babies deemed “incompatible with life”.

Finally, the video calls on the Irish diaspora to speak out now and to encourage the nation to maintain its pro-life culture that is identified and admired worldwide.

Conference, November 12th, Royal Marine Hotel Dunlaoghaire: Protect and Cherish the 8th Amendment

New post graduate course in Dublin City University (DCU) aims to hook children on sex!

Post by Marie Cummins.

The newest post graduate certificate in DCU entitled; Sexuality and Sexual Health Education is pointing towards an overly sexualised, secular society where anything goes, as long as you are in control. This collaborative partnership between DCU school of Nursing and the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) states that it will help individuals to 'make healthy decisions about sexuality and sexual health regardless of their position in the life span'. This loaded statement indicates that no matter what age a child is, they will be educated about sexual decisions and explicit sexual terms and behaviours unsuitable for their age. Now that these explicit courses are beginning to emerge in Ireland, Irish citizens need to fully understand the consequences and implications of such sexual programmes being promoted in school settings and health care settings.

The course undoubtedly is promoting CSE (Comprehensive Sexuality Education), which essentially includes issues such as abortion, promiscuity and LGBTQIA rights. Sexuality education as proposed by this new course promotes sexual rights at the expense of sexual health. Ultimately the goal of such programmes is to change the sexual and gender norms of society. A more accurate name to this course would be abortion, promiscuity and LGBTQIA rights education.

As outlined on the DCU website the key objectives of the course include to;

▪ Train a generation of educators in Sexuality & Sexual Health.

▪ Elaborate on sexuality-related literary, artistic and cultural discourses.

▪ Advocate for the implementation and where necessary the creation of social

  policy on sexuality, sexual health education, and sexual education promotion in

  relation to human rights that shape social justice and diversity.

Comprehensive sexuality education is promoted by powerful organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), and UN agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNFPA. Even the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) promotes CSE.

The controversial nature of CSE promotes the following:

• Masturbation to children as young as 5 years old

• Encourages children to explore their gender identity

• Teaches children about orgasm, homosexual and heterosexual sexual acts

• Promotes abortion as safe and without consequences

• Promotes CSE as a human right and promotes high risk sexual activities as safe.

• The program also teaches children about the right to abortion, and encourages

   them to advocate for sexual rights in laws and policies.

This comprehensive approach to sexuality education is pornographic in nature and fails to include emotional, physical and psychological health risks of promiscuous sexual activity.

PARENTAL RIGHTS

Despite the fact that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in Article 26.3

Says that: “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children” these programmes are taught without adequate parental notification or consultation. This is a gross violation of parental rights.

Provision is also being made at an international level which grant children privacy and confidentiality further alienating parental rights.

The question to ask here is; confidentiality from whom? and privacy from whom? This violation of the constitutional rights of parents to guide and educate their children will make it very difficult for parents to know what their children are being taught and shown at school. This so called ‘sexual liberation’ of children from the parents conservative or religious views regarding sexuality and indoctrinating them in a new worldview that coincides with various liberal political ideologies is extremely dangerous. The purpose of such programs is to expose children to explicit sexual content without the knowledge or consent of their parents.

This new course offered by DCU is only the beginning, the dangers of such explicit CSE needs to be exposed and our children must be protected from ludicrous liberal sexual agendas.

RTE found to be in breach of BAI standards following public complaints on their handling of the abortion issue

BLOG POST  by Marie Cummins

 

When will RTE adhere to the broadcasting laws of fairness and impartiality when dealing with the issue of abortion? Over the past six months, Ray D’Arcy, who presents an afternoon radio show for RTE, has twice been found to be in breach of the Broadcasting Authority if Ireland (BAI) standards in dealing with the issue of abortion and the right to life of unborn babies. 

The BAI decisions were handed down following a number of complaints by members of the public that D’Arcy’s handling of abortion was one-sided and biased. See articles in the Journal and the Irish Independent.

The first case arose during a programme on June 9^th last year when D’Arcy interviewed Amnesty International’s Colm O’Gorman, in relation to the group’s pro-abortion report ‘She is not a criminal: The impact of Ireland’s abortion law’.  Following that interview  six complaints were lodged with the BAI on the basis that the programme was clearly in breach of Section 39 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which stipulates that ‘all news broadcast is reported and presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of the broadcaster's own views’.

Recently another complaint was issued to the BAI following D’Arcy’s interview of creator of Father Ted, Graham Linehan and his wife Helen, on 19 October of last year, regarding their experience of abortion. The interview focused on the fact that at 12 weeks gestation their baby had been diagnosed as having a so called ‘fatal foetal abnormality’ and on their subsequent decision to have an abortion. The Linehans who were living in England at the time took part in an Amnesty International video, the purpose of which was to remove all remaining barriers to, and decriminalise abortion, in Ireland. The BAI upheld both complaints in separate rulings and ruled that the radio programmes did not meet the requirements for ‘fairness, impartiality and objectivity'.

Both programmes were blatant attacks on Ireland's pro-life laws and in particular on the Eight Amendment of the Constitution, which grants an equal right to life to a mother and her unborn child. These programmes were presented by D’Arcy during a period when the pro-abortion lobby is working hard to overturn Ireland’s protection of the unborn and he failed to provide balance by inviting someone to present a pro-life view, neither did he adequately challenge the position of the guests on the show. On the contrary he seemed to be in agreement with them and gave them a very soft interview.

The whole affair raises a number of poignant questions . First, why were there no balancing views during the programmes, there are a number of groups such as ‘one day more’ whose members have experienced similar heartbreak as the Linehans but carried their babies to term?

Another critical question relates to the interview with the Linehans and we ask, if pro -life people came on the air, would they be given the same soft approach?

Probably not.

The Irish media in general appears to have embraced pro-abortion stance and seem to waste no opportunity in promoting their views. The position of RTE however is somewhat different to the media in general, in that they receive public funding and it is incumbent on them therefore to be more careful about the presentation of one-sided views on critical issues such as this.

It is high time that RTE are taken to task about their broadcasting policies and their monitoring of individual programmes when dealing with the issue of abortion if they are to continue to receive public funding.

It is also clear that the time has come for RTE to take action in regard to Ray D’Arcy. 

Blatant bias against pro-life and pro-family NGO’s at UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW60).

The 60^th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women took place at UN headquarters in New York  from March 14^th to March 24^th finishing around 11.00PM on Holy Thursday. There has always been bias against pro-life and pro-family NGO’s at the UN however this year’s session contained a new and pernicious level of bias, not previously experienced by pro-life and pro-family NGO’s. 

This new level of bias first showed it ugly head in the preparations for the session when the pro-life and family NGO’s applied for parallel events and were told that only one event would be allowed per organization and then were either refused outright or given slots on the most unsuitable dates and times. Contrast that with the slots, times, dates and numbers of events given to pro-abortion organizations many of which were given multiple slots for their parallel events, together with more appropriate dates and times. Radical Feminist organizations such as the Asian-Pacific resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) for example were given approval for three events  -  March 15, 2:30 pm, March 21, 10:30 am, March 21 4:30 pm, while the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) were given 6 events – March 16  8:30 am, March 16 12:30 pm, March 17 6:15 pm, March 21 10:30 am, March 21 4:30 pm, March 24 2:30 pm. 

Second the  CSW approved NGO committee issued a publication for NGO’s condemning what they describe as negativity and yes, you have guessed it, negativity consists of the pro-life and family agenda. The following is and extract from the publication,  'NGOs and Women’s Human Rights Activists at the UN and CSW', which on page 23 sets out some of the so called negative trends that in the view of the committee have impeded their progress:
 

• Narrowing the concept of gender to only refer to women and men

• Dissent between pro-life and pro-choice groups

• Opposition to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, in particular sexual rights

• Opposition to “sexual orientation and gender identity” or (SOGI)

• Opposition to “diverse forms of families”

• Opposition to Comprehensive Sexuality Education.

Thirdly and perhaps more serious than the other problems was that a new level of inflexibility entered into the inter governmental negotiations and despite strong representations from many pro-life NGO’s the CSW outcome document, Women’s Empowerment and the Link to Sustainable Development, (Draft) Agreed Conclusions, contains language aimed at increasing access to contraception and abortion and teaching children inappropriate so called comprehensive sexuality education. The health paragraph also includes a reference to controversial sexual rights.

Irish Bishop's statements in the lead up to the Irish general election

The Catholic Bishops of Ireland have issued a pastoral statement on the upcoming election and in addition a number of Bishops have issued their own pastoral statements.It is vitally important that the Bishops are currently speaking out in advance of next weeks election on the necessity of voting for candidates committed to protecting unborn human life right from the time of conception and retaining the pro-life amendment to the Irish Constitution Article 40.3.3 also referred to as the 8th amendment.

Whilst it is gratifying to see this we must comment that had they spoken out in this way prior to the unfortunate referendum on marriage the result may have been different.

We focus here on the pro-life aspects of the various texts and additionally link to the full statement in each case.

18 February 2016: Pastoral Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland on the Upcoming General Election

[…] A true human ecology recognises the equal right to life of every person from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.   The Constitution of Ireland embraces the right to life of the unborn child.    It is a fundamental affirmation of equality, where the right to life of no child is considered of less value than that of another.   We strongly oppose any weakening of the affirmation of the right to life of the unborn.

Click here to read the full statement.

18 February 2016: Pastoral Message from Archbishop Eamon in preparation for the forthcoming General Election
Archbishop Eamon encourages everyone to ask those who seek your vote to confirm a number of critical issues including the right to life

Archbishop Eamon asks specifically
[…] Most importantly, because the right to life is the most fundamental right of all, ask them:
Will you continue to support the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child as enshrined in the eighth amendment of the Constitution?
We must make it clear to those who wish our vote that there are no circumstances in which the direct killing of an unborn child can ever be justified.


Click here to read the full message.

16 February 2016: Bishop Ray Browne calls us to cast our vote

Abortion is an issue that is highly sensitive for many, many people. It is not just an issue in Ireland. There are and will always be, in every country in the world, people of all faiths and none who will campaign against it. Christian people will always say ‘no’ to abortion. To repeal the 8th Amendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann is to say that difficulties with acknowledging “the right to life of the unborn, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother” can be resolved by reducing to nought, the right to life of the unborn.

Click here to read the full statement from Bishop Browne.


16 February 2016: Recognising One Another as Persons – A pre-election 2016 statement from Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin

The right to life is a fundamental human right. Respect for life is one of the key indicators of a civilised society. In 2013, the Government passed legislation which permitted direct abortion in certain circumstances. In recent months there has been talk of removing the right to life of the unborn from the Constitution. This talk tends to focus on babies with life-limiting conditions and, in the public debate, much of what is presented as fact is actually quite misleading. Some babies who are seriously ill only live for a very short time, while others live significantly longer. For a Christian, however, there is no such thing as a life without value. For as long as they live, children with life-limiting conditions are entitled to be loved and cared for like any other childand their parents are entitled to the support of proper peri-natal hospice services.

Some of the political parties and some individual candidates have made no secret of the fact that they favour the widespread availability of abortion, while others have begun to talk about “assisted suicide”. Pope John Paul II wrote: “To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom.” (The Gospel of Life, 20). We need to convince our politicians of the importance of supporting and promoting a culture of life that recognises the unique value of every human person, and we need to actively support those who do. Meanwhile, I find it very difficult to see how any Catholic could, in good conscience, vote for a candidate or a political party whose policy it is to legalise abortion.

Click here to read the full statement from Bishop Doran.

16 February 2016: Statement by Archbishop Michael Neary concerning the equal protection of the right to life of mothers and unborn children

Of critical importance in any society is the unique value placed on each human life from the moment of conception to natural death.  If life is not fully respected and protected then the very basis of our society is weakened.  The Eighth Amendment guarantees the right to life of the unborn and the equal right to life of the mother.

Regrettably, some of those standing for election have declared their intention to work to remove this protection from our Constitution and laws.  This simplistic approach to the most significant of issues is not only an outright attack on the unborn, but an affront to the charter of human rights enshrined in Ireland’s basic law.

If an unborn child has a life-limiting condition, it would be inhumane to withdraw the protection of the Constitution to their right to life.  In this most significant of centenary years it is more pressing than ever “to cherish all the children of the nation equally” whether unborn or born, and irrespective of a child’s health status.

Click here to read the full statement from Archbishop Michael Neary.

13 February 2016: Statement by Bishop John Buckley concerning election 2016

It is sad that a child’s life-limiting condition is being used to promote the agenda of those who seek to legalise abortion on much wider grounds. Candidates in the election should be questioned politely but firmly, not just on their future intentions but on their past record.

There is no moral justification for a lack of housing. It is an issue that demands investment
The vast majority of refugees are good and law-abiding people. Refugees must respect the values, laws and traditions of the host countries. Ireland and Europe must address the refugee crisis as a matter of urgency.

Click here to read the full statement from Bishop Buckley.

Value Voter's guide to the Irish general Election UPDATE

List updated Tuesday Feb 23rd

The General Election next week is a great opportunity for values voters to express opposition to the so called liberal, but in reality anti life and family, agenda that is being implemented by our Government. 

This election comes within a few weeks of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter rising which kick started Ireland's journey to self governance. I feel certain that those who gave their lives in the fight for Irish freedom would find today's Ireland unrecognizable and completely contrary to their noble intentions when it comes to life, family and other precious issues.

The policies of the outgoing government on issues such as abortion and same sex marriage have had the effect of removing some of the uncertainty about where various TDs stand on issues critical to the values voter.

The position is in fact quite complex as there are many issues that must be taken into account when making the decision to vote for anyone. 

The following guide has been put together by Seamas de Barra from various sources on the positions of the various candidates on retention or rejection of the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment.

The decision on who to vote for is however complicated by those who openly supported constitutional change in the definition of marriage which led to the disastrous outcome in the ensuing referendum. 

In addition there are other major issues coming down the line such as surrogacy, and assisted human reproduction. Outgoing Minister for Health, Dr Leo Varadkar, has expressed his intention, if returned, to introduce legislation favouring surrogacy, and the public funding of in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization on a regular basis involves wastage of 96% of the human embryos involved, and that wastage has been described by the Vatican in Dignitas Personae (2008) as ‘abortions’ [§16].

The following list includes all the Independents and has:

• broken down the FF numbers into those who voted either for or against the 2013 pro-abortion legislation, 
• those who have declared either for or against the removal of the remaining protection for the unborn under the banner of removal of the 8th amendment; 
• the TDs who were removed from Fine Gael over the 2013 pro-abortion legislation; 
• Renua candidates either for or against the removal of the remaining protection for the unborn under the banner of removal of the 8th amendment;  
• the 1 Green Party candidate in favour of the 8th, Sinéad Byrne; 
• the 1 Sinn Féin candidate who voted against the pro-abortion legislation , Peadar Tóibín.  

Independent Candidates, and some others, in Favour of Retaining
the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment

Connacht/Ulster
Cavan-Monaghan Mary Smyth; Donegal Tim Jackson; Galway East Sean Canney. Michael Fahy; Galway West Fidelma Healy-Eames, Noel Grealish, Tommy Roddy; Mayo Peter Jordan, Gerry O’Boyle, George O’Malley; Roscommon/Galway Denis Naughten; Sligo/Leitrim Bernie O’Hara, Des Guckian.

Leinster
Carlow/Kilkenny Paddy Manning; Kildare North ––––– ; Kildare South –––––– ;
Laois –––––– ; Offaly Kate Bopp; Longford-Westmeath Noel McKervey [Catholic Democrats]; Louth –– ; Meath East Sharon Keogan; Meath West John Malone; Wexford –––– ; Wicklow Joe Behan.

Munster
Clare ––––– ; Cork East ––––– ; Cork North Central Ger Keohane; Cork South Central –––– ; Cork South-West Theresa Heaney [Catholic Democrats], Michael Collins; Cork North-West John Paul O’Shea, Diarmuid O’Flynn; Kerry Michael Healy-Rae, Mary E. Fitzgibbon, John Brassil Danny Healy Rae; Limerick City Nora Bennis [Catholic Democrats]; Limerick County Emmet O’Brien, Richard O’Donoghue, John O’Gorman; Tipperary Mattie McGrath, Michael Lowry; Waterford John Walsh.

Dublin
Dublin Bay North Paul Clarke, Proinsias Ó Conaire;  Dublin Bay South ––––– ;
Dublin Central –––––––; Dublin Fingal (North) ––––– ; Dublin North-West ––– ;
Dublin Rathdown Peter Mathews; Dublin South Central –––––; Dublin South-West Kieran Adam Quigley, Ronan McMahon [Renua]; Dublin West ––– ;
Dún Laoghaire ––––– ; Dublin Mid-West ––––– .

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Fianna Fáil Dáil Candidates who have declared in Favour of Retaining
the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment

Connacht/Ulster
Cavan/Monaghan ––––– ; Donegal –––– ; Galway East Colm Keaveney; Galway West Éamon Ó Cuív, Mary Hoade, John Connolly; Mayo ––––– ; Roscommon/Galway –––– ; Sligo-Leitrim ––– .

Leinster
Carlow/Kilkenny ––––– ; Kilare North James Lawless; Kildare South ––––– ;
Laois ––––– ; Offaly ––––– ; Longford-Westmeath ––––– ; Louth ––––– ;
Meath East –––– ; Meath West –––– ; Wexford –––––– ; Wicklow ––––– .

Munster
Clare Michael McDonough; Cork East Barbara Allen; Cork North Central –––– ;
Cork South Central –––– ; Cork South-West –––– ; Cork North West Aindrias Moynahan; Kerry John Brassil ; Limerick City_______; Limerick County –––––– ;
Tipperary ––––– ; Waterford –––––– .

Dublin
Dublin Bay North Seán Haughey; Dublin Bay South –––––– ; Dublin Central –––; Dublin Fingal (North) Darragh O’Brien; Dublin North-West Paul McAuliffe;  Dublin Rathdown –––– ; Dublin South Central ––––– ; Dublin South-West –––– ; Dublin West –––– Jack Chambers; Dún Laoghaire Cormac Devlin, Mary Hanafin; Dublin Mid-West ––––– .

Fianna Fáil Dáil candidates who voted against the pro-abortion legislation
the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013

Connacht/Ulster
Cavan/Monaghan Brendan Smith; Donegal Charlie McConalogue; Galway East Colm Keaveney; Galway West Éamon Ó Cuív; Mayo Dara Calleary; Roscommon/Galway ––– ; Sligo-Leitrim Senator Mark McSharry.

Leinster
Carlow/Kilkenny John McGuinness; Kildare North ––––– ; Kildare South Seán Ó Fearghaíl; Laois Seán Fleming; Offaly ––––– ; Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy [but favours abortion of babies with life-limiting conditions]; Louth –––– ; Meath East ––––– ; Meath West –––– ; Wexford –––– ; Wicklow ––––– .

Munster
Clare ––––– ; Cork East ––––– ; Cork North Central ––––– ; Cork South Central Michael McGrath;  Cork South West ––––– ; Cork North-West Michael Moynihan;
Kerry ––––– ; Limerick City Willie O'Dea; Limerick County ––––– ; Tipperary ––––– ; Waterford –––––––– .

Dublin
Dublin Bay North ––––– ; Dublin Bay South ––––––– ; Dublin Central –––––––
Dublin Fingal (North) Darragh O’Brien; Dublin North-West –––––– ; Dublin Rathdown ––––– ; Dublin South Central –––––– ; Dublin South-West –––––– ;
Dublin West –––––– ; Dún Laoghaire ––––––– ; Dublin Mid-West ––––– .


Fianna Fáil candidates who voted in favour of the pro-abortion legislation the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013
Offaly Barry Cowan; Clare Timmy Dooley; Limerick County Niall Collins; Cork North Central Billy Kelleher; Cork South Central Micheál Martin; Dublin Rathdown Senator Mary White.

Fianna Fáil candidates who are against retaining the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment/ or have declared in favour of Abortion
in certain circumstances
Mayo Lisa Chambers;  Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy; Wexford Malcolm Byrne, Aoife Byrne; Kerry Norma Moriarty; Dublin Bay South Jim O’Callaghan; Dublin Fingal (North) Lorraine Clifford Lea; Dublin South Central Catherine Ardagh.


TDs who were expelled from Fine Gael for voting against
the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 and are running
in this General Election
Galway West Senator Fidelma Healy Eames [Independent]; Wicklow Billy Timmins [Renua]; Cork East Senator Paul Bradford [Renua]; Dublin Bay North Terence Flanagan [Renua]; Dublin Bay South Lucinda Creighton [Renua]; Dublin Rathdown Peter Mathews [Independent].


Renua Candidates who haven’t run previously and who have declared in favour of the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment

Galway West Nicola Davoren; Mayo Michael Farrington; Sligo-Leitrim Finbarr Filan; Louth Michael O’Dowd; Cork East Senator Paul Bradford; Cork North-West Jason Fitzgerald; Dublin South-West Ronan McMahon; Dublin West Jo O’Brien.

Renua Candidates who are opposed to the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment
Kildare South Mary Kennedy; Cork South Central Ciaran Kenneally; Kerry Donal Corcoran; Dublin South Central Michael Gargan; Dún Laoghaire Frank Cronin.

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Sinn Fein and the Green party are in favour of repealing the remaining pro-life protection for the unborn by the removal of the 8th Amendment.

Green Party
The Green Party is in favour of repealing the 8th [or Pro-Life Amendment] but they allow a free vote on such issues. Only one Green Party candidate has declared in favour of the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment: Laois Sinéad Moore.

Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is in favour of repealing the 8th [or Pro-Life] Amendment, and they don’t allow a free vote on such issues. One of their candidates voted against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, Peadar Tóibín, and he was expelled from Sinn Féin for 6 months.

Stormont MLA’s will vote today on pro-abortion amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill

Two amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill seeking the introduction of abortion now look unlikely to pass as the DUP say they will vote against it.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has however asked the Northern Ireland Health Minister to set up a working group to look at how the issue of so called ‘fatal foetal abnormality’ can be addressed.

Two separate amendments to the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Bill, tabled by  the Alliance and the Green Parties, aimed at changing the law on abortion will come to a vote today Wednesday February 10^th, The amendments if approved would allow abortion of babies with life-limiting disabilities and babies conceived by criminal acts (rape or incest).

Both the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children and Precious Life appealed to MLA’s to reject the proposals. These are the most vulnerable of unborn children and if their legal protection is denied, the legal protection of all unborn children is brought into question.

Northern Ireland’s Catholic Bishops have also urged Assembly members to reject the proposed amendments. The Bishops in their statement rephrased the issue to refer to unborn children with life-limiting conditions, rather than the pro-abortion definition of ‘fatal foetal abnormality’.

The DUP has asked the Northern Ireland health minister to set up a working group to look at how the issue of fatal foetal abnormality can be addressed.

The move comes as MLAs prepare for an assembly debate on whether to make abortions legal in such cases. The DUP said the issue required proper consideration by the assembly and executive, and that the Bill was not intended for this purpose. They have asked Health Minister Simon Hamilton to set up a working group, including clinicians and people with a legal background, to make recommendations as to how the issue can be addressed, including, if necessary, draft legislation. It is to report within six months.

The proposed amendment looks unlikely to pass now that the DUP has said it will be voting against it.

Abortion, legal or illegal, apart from killing babies, cannot be considered safe for women

The killing of unborn babies has been sanitized by the abortion industry and its supporters by telling us that it is a legitimate 'Choice' and that if it not legalized women will die, They claim that legalizing abortion makes it safe but nothing could be further from the truth.

Legalized abortion is widely touted by them as being beneficial to women, but a wealth of medical and psychological evidence suggests otherwise.

Women face numerous risks with abortion, legal or illegal, and those risks are substantially greater in the developing world, yet some in the international community for ideological reasons have focused their resources primarily on legalizing abortion at the expense of women’s lives and health.

The claim is, that making abortion legal makes it safe, but medical research shows this to be false, the evidence is overwhelming, abortion is dangerous for women. It is by its very nature a violent and damaging procedure. Documented complications include hemorrhage, infection, cervical damage, uterine perforation, pelvic disease and retained fetal or placental tissue.

Large record-based studies from Finland[1], Denmark[2] and the United States[3] found that maternal mortality rates were significantly higher after abortion compared to childbirth. Long-term risks of abortion, including subsequent preterm birth, infertility, cancer, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and placenta previa, can substantially impede future reproductive success.

Abortion is also associated with increased risk of negative psycho-social consequences. For example, a 2011 meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Psychiatry[4] found an 81 percent increased risk of mental health problems. Anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug use and suicidal behaviors have been found to increase following abortion, along with damage to key relationships.

In the developing world, these dangers increase where basic maternal health care is unavailable. The incidence of maternal mortality is mainly determined by the quality of maternal health care. Legalization does not improve outcomes, but only increases the number of women subjected to the risks of abortion.

Abortion needlessly puts women at serious risk, both physically and psychologically and rather than legalize or promote it, governments should protect the equal dignity and basic rights of all human beings, including women and their unborn children.

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[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9292639

[2] http://www.medscimonit.com/abstract/index/idArt/883338

[3] http://aborto.cc/documentos/DeathsAssociatedWithAbortion.pdf

[4] http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/199/3/180.full