Ireland's Universal Periodic Review

Ireland’s first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place yesterday at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Ireland’s Justice Minister, Alan Shatter who represented the Irish Government was questioned on a wide range of issues including Ireland’s pro-life laws. The report of the UPR session will be adopted on Monday next and will be considered by the full council next March. 

In his presentation Minister Shatter told the UN UPR Working Group that the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B & C case found that there was an absence of effective procedures to establish a right to termination in Ireland and that as stated in the national report 

“Ireland is committed to expeditious implementation of the judgment and an expert group will be appointed in November, drawing on appropriate medical and legal expertise with a view to making recommendations to Government on how this matter should be properly addressed.”

During the subsequent session Ireland’s, anti-abortion laws were questioned by delegates from the following countries, Holland, Germany, Slovenia, Norway, Spain and the UK, all of whom, called on Ireland to legislate for abortion. Denmark additionally called for abortion on demand.

Minister Shatter in response to the questions and recommendations on the abortion issue told the meeting that Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution guarantees both the right to life of the unborn with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother and continued by saying that the issue therefore has a constitutional context. He the told the meeting that the Irish Supreme Court in the X case had decided that it was lawful to terminate a pregnancy in Ireland when it is necessary to preserve the life, as distinct from the health of the mother, and that the government would address the issue and meet their obligations. He also told the meeting that the Court in the A, B & C judgment had found that Irish law is in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights. It was he said the lack of an identifiable procedure that a woman could avail of if her life was genuinely at risk, on which the European Court had ruled

Despite the demand of pro-abortion governments and pro-abortion groups such as  the IFPA Ireland is not obliged to legislate for abortion as a result the recent European Court of Human Rights ruling in the A, B & C case.

It is to be hoped that the expert group to be appointed in November will include pro-life legal and medical advice and will take into account the numerous peer reviewed studies, highlighting the negative consequences of abortion for women, rather than adopting a pro-abortion ideological stance, bearing in mind that Ireland has the lowest level of maternal mortality in the world. In fact Ireland has a much better record of safeguarding the lives of women in pregnancy than any of the countries that challenged the Irish laws on abortion.

UN launch major attack on unborn life

Despite the fact that there is no such right as a "right" to abortion  and despite vast amounts of research that confirms its disastrous effects on women’s lives in addition to killing their babies, the ongoing attempt by pro-abortion forces to create a so called human right to abortion through the United Nations system has been ramped up significantly this year.

This is evident both in the Human Rights Council in Geneva and in the General Assembly in New York.

The focus of the UN along with the WHO and UNFPA is fatally flawed, instead of making child bearing safe for every woman it is aimed at reducing the number of children a woman bears by the provision of family planning and abortion. Sadly by re-directing millions of dollars to these areas many women are left without adequate assistance thereby slowing the reduction in the maternal mortality levels. Organizations that could make a real difference such as Matercare are being denied the funding they urgently need and if offered it will be conditional upon the inclusion of abortion.

Two major UN pro-abortion reports were issued recently one in Geneva and one in New York

In Geneva the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Navanetham Pillay, titled “Practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and human rights” correctly calls for urgent attention to be given to reduction of maternal mortality, however the methods being proposed include abortion on demand, eliminating laws that “stigmatise” women and addressing so called “unsafe abortion” which it is claimed is responsible for 1 in every 8 deaths

The High Commissioner in her report claims that States have an obligation to address so called unsafe abortion, which she says is one of the 5 major causes of maternal death. Of course all abortion is unsafe for the baby and in addition is never a solution for any crisis

In New York the Report of Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of health, published as a report of the Secretary General will be debated during the current session of the General Assembly.

The report, written by UN Special Rapporteur Anand Grover, links the availability of abortion on demand with the fundamental right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

The report calls for the removal of all Criminal laws penalizing or restricting induced abortion and calls for abortion on demand without any restrictions and calls for availability of so called medical as well as surgical abortion. According to Grover, 

“Criminal laws penalizing and restricting induced abortion are the paradigmatic examples of impermissible barriers to the realization of women’s right to health and must be eliminated.”

Grover goes on to say that legalizing abortion, alone, is not enough for states to avoid violating women’s right to health. States he says must also actively promote the procedure. 

“States must take measures to ensure that legal and safe abortion services are available, accessible, and of good quality. Safe abortions, however, will not immediately be available upon decriminalization unless States create conditions under which they may be provided. These conditions include establishing available and accessible clinics; the provision of additional training for physicians and health-care workers; enacting licensing requirements and ensuring the availability of the latest and safest medicines and equipment.” 

Grover also calls for removal of all stigmatization relating to abortion and calls for the protection of abortionists and abortion providers from so-called “harassment”. 

He also claims that lack of access to legal abortion leads to women seeking unsafe abortion and this in turn increases maternal mortality

 His report then attacks conscientious objection and requires access to information and education on all matters relative to sexual and reproductive health and the removal of all barriers thereto.

It seems that the pro-abortion forces want to get their agenda fully and finally in place before President Obama leaves the White House which suggests that they see him as a one term President.

BAIL OUT FAMILIES NOT THE BONDHOLDERS Says Dana Rosemary Scallon

BAIL OUT FAMILIES NOT THE BONDHOLDERS

Says Dana Rosemary Scallon

There is a real crisis of trust, a crisis of fear and a crisis of confidence in almost every home.  “Middle Ireland” is reeling from mismanagement of those who profiteer. 

Governments have failed us, politicians have failed us and banks have failed us. We are in a time of crisis for families. We need to start looking after each other first before we look after the bondholders, banks and speculators. Families are suffering as jobs are lost, house values tumble and bills soar.

I will offer a Presidency that upholds values, trust, equity and fairness; one that supports the families of Ireland and ensures the most vulnerable are listened to. I will ensure that no government will be allowed to pull the wool over the eyes of the Irish people, subject families to penal times, facilitate a bail out foreign banks, speculators and the elite, or undermine our Constitution,” concluded Dana Rosemary Scallon.

Dana appearing on the Late Late show last Friday night promised as President to uphold the Constitution which is in fact vitally important at a time when the Government is setting up a Constitutional Convention and threatening to make significant changes to it

This theme was also reflected by Dublin's Archbishop Martin over the weekend when he made the following statement.

Our Constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann, is sometimes presented just as a fossilised child of its time; within its limitations, it has proven to be a document which was ably capable of guaranteeing rights and curbing power – including the power of the State - and has fostered a valuable culture of legal interpretation which has served the people of Ireland well. 
The Constitutional Convention which is to be launched soon must be a moment of true discernment. Renewal does not always mean discontinuity. Tradition is not outdated each new day. True values are different to fashion, where the fashion of the day can tomorrow be quickly out of fashion. Values must be rooted somewhere. They must represent a constant in society and what society aspires to.

NaPro Technology ‘Finding the causes of infertility’.

Last week, the Irish Times newspaper’s weekly supplement, ‘Healthplus’ carried a feature – covering the best part of a two-page spread – entitled ‘Finding the causes of infertility’.    Interestingly, the article was devoted to the NaPro fertility technology, and the work of Dr. Phil Boyle.   I have written many times in the past about this wonderful method of treating the causes of infertility (in particular, please see my blogs for 29 May 2009, 28 June 2009, and 16 April 2010).   The IT article also included an account relating the experiences of one particular family that was helped by Dr. Boyle through the use of NaPro.   It is important to emphasise that NaPro is a completely natural approach to the problem of infertility, it is non-invasive, it is comparatively inexpensive, and its use avoids the tensions and psychological frustrations and physical trauma that are involved in IVF and other artificial methods.     It is also a highly successful method in the treatment of infertility.

Accompanying the ‘Healthplus’ article is a photograph of Dr. Boyle during one of his consultations, and it is lovely to see that on the lapel of his suit he carries one of the ‘Precious Feet’ or ‘Little Feet’ emblem, which is the internationally known pro-life symbol.   Many people are not aware of the importance of wearing this little emblem, and it is extraordinary how ordinary people are so surprised to learn that it represents the actual size and perfection of an unborn baby’s feet at just ten weeks in the womb of her mother – when it is possible that the mother herself might not even realise that she is pregnant!   
A colleague of mine was given a ‘Precious Feet’ emblem nearly twenty years ago.    Ever since, she makes a point of wearing it in public, and she ensures that she has a supply of the little emblem available so that she can pass on one of them whenever the situation arises.   A thought.

The Presidential election and the participation of Catholics in political life

During the course of a recent television debate between the seven contenders for the post of president of Ireland it was sad to see, and hear, some of the individuals who although claiming to be Catholic at the same time demonstrated that they do not follow the teaching of the Church of which they profess to be members.

In November 2002, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life.  The Note, which was given the approval of Bl. John Paul II, says that ‘man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality.’

The Note continues:

‘By fulfilling their civic duties, “guided by a Christian conscience”, in conformity with its values, the lay faithful exercise their proper task of infusing the temporal order with Christian values, all the while respecting the nature and rightful autonomy of that order, and cooperating with other citizens according to their particular competence and responsibility. …  At the same time, however, one cannot close one’s eyes to the real dangers which certain tendencies in society are promoting through legislation, nor can one ignore the effects this will have on future generations.   A kind of cultural relativism exists today, evident in the conceptualisation and defence of an ethical pluralism, which sanctions the decadence and disintegration of reason and the principles of the natural moral law.  … [T]he value of tolerance is disingenuously invoked when a large number of citizens, Catholics among them, are asked not to base their contribution to society and political life – through the legitimate means available to everyone in a democracy – on their particular understanding of the human person and the common good. […]’

The Note then warns that 

‘legislative proposals are put forward which, heedless of the consequences for the existence and future of human beings with regard to the formation of culture and social behaviour attack the very inviolability of human life.  Catholics, in this difficult situation, have the right and the duty to recall society to a deeper understanding of human life and to the responsibility of everyone in this regard.   …  [T]he family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce:  in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such.   […]

‘By its interventions in this area, the Church’s Magisterium does not wish to exercise political power or eliminate the freedom of opinion of Catholics regarding contingent questions.  Instead, it intends – as is its proper function – to instruct and illuminate the consciences of the faithful, particularly those involved in political life, so that their actions may always serve the integral promotion of the human person and the common good.  The social doctrine of the Church is not an intrusion into the government of individual countries.  It is a question of the lay Catholic’s duty to be morally coherent, found within one’s conscience, which is one and indivisible.  There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the one hand, the so-called “spiritual life”, with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called “secular” life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social responsibilities, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture. […]"     

emphasis added