“The child by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth” UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
For the 4th year in a row a '40 days for Life' campaign will
take place in Dublin during Lent, commencing on Ash Wednesday, 5th march and
continuing until Easter Sunday, feast of the Resurrection.
The campaign began in the US but is now a worldwide initiative,
taking place in 21 countries. Everybody can take part.
The three essential elements are prayer, fasting and public
witness outside an abortion referral agency.
Since the year 2010 many people in Ireland have offered
their Lenten fast for the success of the campaign.
For the campaign to be a success it is essential for several
people to be present as often as possible outside the agency during business
hours. Even if you have never done this work before, you are welcome. You don't
need any experience just to stand and pray.
Contact numbers and e-mail address for Gianna Care:
Carolyn 087-6729393, Paul 087-9253483, Maura 087-9842365
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.)
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.”
It has been estimated by Life Institute the rally organizers
that more than 60,000 people attended last Saturday’s pro-life rally in Dublin
making it the largest-ever pro-life rally against abortion that Ireland has
ever seen. The Rally which commenced at 2.00 PM at the Garden of Remembrance in
Parnell Square and ended at Dåil Eireann (The Irish Parliament) sent a strong
message to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Irish Government that the people of
Ireland do not want abortion and that the people must be consulted on the issue
by referendum.
Before the Rally for Life on Saturday, Archbishops Diarmuid and
Eamon Martin concelebrated Mass in St. Savior’s Church, Dominick St at 12.30pm.
Despite the determination of Enda Kenny and his Government to
enact pro-abortion legislation and the determination of mainstream media to
ensure their pro-abortion bias is presented at every opportunity, the presence
of over 60,000 Irish people at Saturday’s rally shows that the Irish public not
only reject the legislation but that they will not be conned by claims that it
is either necessary or life saving.
It is also evident that Government intransigence and Enda
Kenny’s reluctance to listen to the pro-life voice have resulted in more and
more opposition being expressed in public, in that the numbers attending the
vigils and the rally have been growing. Looking back at the 4 major pro-life
events since last December the first vigil in Molesworth street on December 4th
drew a then unprecedented crowd of 10.000, while the January vigil in Merrion
Square drew an estimated 30,000 pro-lifers. Last months vigil also in Merrion
Square drew even larger numbers with estimates being the region of 40,000 plus.
The attendance at all of the previous vigils was topped by the massive
attendance at last Saturday’s vigil
The Rally was addressed by various speakers, including
Eoghan de Faoite of Youth Defence, Niamh Ui Bhriain of Life Institute, Caroline
Simons of PLC, Bernadette Smith of Precious Life and Declan Ganley of Libertas.
Declan Ganley in a rousing speech told the crowd
“Let those Senators and
TDs use the power granted to them under article 27 of our constitution to let
the people speak on this bill, Let us vote. Let us pass judgement on Enda
Kenny’s abortion bill in a referendum. He says his book is the constitution.
Well use it, Taoiseach. He says he trusts the people. Well prove it, Taoiseach.
He says this is a matter of grave concern to the public. Well ask them,
Taoiseach. ”
Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said:
“If you refuse, Taoiseach, to let
the people vote, then the people will be heard. 100,000 people have already
signed the pro-life pledge, 100,000 will seek to build a new political
alternative, 100,000 will remember Taoiseach, that if you ram through this law,
you are the abortion Taoiseach and Fine Gael is the abortion party, and they
will seek an alternative which protects both mother and baby. ”
Fine Gael, she said, had now awoken a sleeping giant, that
would work night and day to build an alternative to political parties who broke
their promises and betrayed their principles.
I was born in Galway, Ireland where I attended first Scoil Fhursa and then St Ignatius (Jesuit) College. My family moved to Cork in 1960 and I spent my last year at the Christian Brothers College in Mc Curtain street Cork (CBC).
I came to Dublin in 1963 where I met and married my wife Philomena. We have lived in Dublin since then and have been blessed with seven children and 17 grandchildren (so far). When I finished school I studied architecture through the professional institutions and I am a retired Member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (MRIAI). I also hold a BSc. in psychology and political philosophy.
I currently lobby pro-life and pro-family issues at the United Nations in New York and Geneva and occasionally at the European Parliament and Council of Europe. I am a member of the pro-life, pro-family coalition operating within the international institutions and I am a consultant to the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children SPUC on UN and related matters.
Between 1978-85, as a married couple Philomena and I were involved in the presentation of Marriage Encounter Weekends and pre-marriage courses. We also represented Worldwide Marriage Encounter on a committee for the family in the Dublin Archdiocese. Between 1985-1988. I was appointed National Secretary and then President of the Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association (CSPA). I have been lobbying pro-life issue at the UN for upwards of 12 years.
I am a past President of the National Association of Catholic Families (NACF)
Publications:
1997: Anthology of pro-life verse
IMAGES
I believe that I am allowed to use the images accompanying my blog and that they are licence- and royalty-free. However if the owner or the licensor disagrees, please contact me and I will remove it immediately.
For the 4th year in a row a '40 days for Life' campaign will
take place in Dublin during Lent, commencing on Ash Wednesday, 5th march and
continuing until Easter Sunday, feast of the Resurrection. 
