Thursday, February 18, 2016

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 ––––– .

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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.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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 10th, 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.