Lucinda Creighton TD, interview on Spirit Radio 31st Oct 2013

Lucinda Creighton TD, who resigned from her role as Minister of European Affairs and from the Fine Gael party whip, rather than vote in favour of the Government abortion legislation, was interviewed on Spirit Radio by Ronan Johnston, during his programme Rojo in the morning, on October 31^st. 

During the interview Ms Creighton said;

“The reality was also that you had a junior coalition partner in the doldrums in terms of opinion polls, under pressure because of the very difficult economic decisions we had taken as a government. And they needed something.  And I think it’s pretty horrific to think that a trade-off could be made between budget cuts and the introduction of abortion, but that’s actually what happened, let’s be frank about it.

So the trade-off was to keep the Labour Party happy that people in Fine Gael who were deeply uncomfortable with the idea of legalising abortion or legislating for a more liberal abortion regime in Ireland would just have to, as somebody said in the corridors of Leinster House, they’d just have to “suck it up”.  And, you know, the Labour Party backbenchers were feeling pain on the economy so therefore Fine Gael backbenchers would just have to suck it up on the issue of abortion.  And that’s basically what happened.” 

The full interview is available on podcast on this link

The World of MEMES

The advent of online imagery, in the form of memes, for sites such as Twitter is gaining more and more popularity.

It is possible with a few graphic images to convey a critical message visually and very effectively with a minimum of words.
The image below published by catholicmemes.com is a great example of this.

BOOK REVIEW: DO NO HARM a novel by Fiorella de Maria Nash

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Book Review by Fr. John I Fleming,

I have just finished reading Fiorella de Maria Nash's book, "Do no Harm". This is what I think of it.

In a world which has lost its moral compass, a doctor elects to save the life of woman attempting suicide. He is arrested and charged with assault and battery. His entire life and career hangs in the balance.
In this novel Fiorella de Maria Nash takes the reader through the exquisite dilemma of a doctor having to deal with the new legal situation created by legally enforceable living wills. Set against the background of a complacent society, a complacency shared by Catholic bishops, parliamentarians, and the mass media, Nash explores all of the problems which occur when medical ethics based on Hippocrates conflicts with what appears to be the legal requirements of the state.

The novel is superbly written in impeccable English, yet with a universal appeal to include those who speak other variations to this wonderful language. Nash employs all of the skills of the language, and her excellent grasp of bioethics (medical ethics) to tell us a wonderful story involving real human beings in deeply distressing circumstances which are at once believable and disturbing.

This book should appeal to everyone, and has particular relevance for those who love a good story dealing with real issues in the complex area of how medicine should be practised by a conscientious physician. I commend this book. It will make an excellent birthday or Christmas gift.

SPUC International Pro-Life Youth Conference 2014

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has announced an International Pro-Life Youth & Student Conference to take place from 7th-9th March 2014 at Telford Campus, England.

SPUC in announcing the conference say;

We want you to receive the best possible pro-life formation in an enjoyable and stimulating environment. This conference is run over three days, where you can expect the following:

•                A line-up of international experts speaking on up to date pro-life topics.

•                Opportunities for questions, panel discussions/debates so that you can ask and discuss the most important pro-life issues we face today.

•                A top quality range of literature for you to take away.

•                The chance to spend three days in the company of other young pro-lifers in the UK and abroad. You’ll make new friends and learn about the pro-life and student experiences of others.

•                Each day you’ll be served meals and refreshment. These are great opportunities to talk with the speakers and relax with other young adults.

•                We’ll guarantee you entertainment and a reasonably priced bar for drinks. Previous conferences have included films, talent shows, ceilidh bands and dancing.

The SPUC youth blog has a permanent page dedicated to the youth conference: http://whyiamprolife.org/?page_id=571 We are now taking bookings. Do not delay. If you’re booking as part of a group it’s best to start organising early. Booking early also means you’ll be able to book your coach or train tickets at a cheaper price, and don’t forget to apply for SPUC Branch sponsored places. 

Email conference@spuc.org.uk with your details and we’ll send you the booking form. Also feel free to email us if you have any questions. [SPUC youth blog, 5 November]

Women who had UK abortions to bring case against Ireland to the United Nations

In a new attempt to broaden the basis on which terminations of pregnancy may be obtained in Ireland the Journal reports that a group of Irish women who each decided to abort their babies following a diagnosis of fetal abnormality are taking a case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee with the assistance of an international pro-abortion law firm the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR).

It is understood that the lodgement of petitions to have their case considered by the committee will take place next week.

There is no such right as a so called 'right' to abortion in any International UN Treaty, quite the reverse in fact, the right to life of all members of the human family is protected in the Universal declaration of human rights and its associated covenants.

There has however been much criticism of treaty monitoring committees, such as the committee in question, that they bring the United Nations into disrepute by reinterpreting the texts to find so-called non existent rights.

It must be stated, whist one has every sympathy with a woman who finds herself in this appalling predicament abortion is not the answer. Despite the pressure placed on women in this difficult situation to abort their babies and the tendency to describe the unfortunate children as monsters, abortion is not the way forward, there is a better way, a caring way of dealing with the devastating news that an unborn baby has not developed fully and is suffering from a terminal condition.

It is essential for women in this awful predicament to have support such as that which can be provided by perinatal hospice care.

The perinatal hospice approach is one that walks with families on their journey through pregnancy, birth, and death, honoring the baby as well as the baby's family. Perinatal hospice is not a place; it is more a frame of mind. It is a way of caring for the pregnant mother, the baby, the father, and all involved with dignity and love. Even in areas without a formal program, parents can create a loving experience for themselves and their baby, and health professionals and family and friends can offer support in the spirit of hospice care.

Many Irish women have taken the decision to cherish every day of the life their baby without ever having heard of the perinatal hospice concept as is presented in this BLOGPOST and video

The following is the text of the Journal report

THE GROUP REPRESENTING women who travelled to the UK to terminate unviable pregnancies are to bring their case to the United Nations.

Terminations for Medical Reasons (TFMR) and the Centre for Reproductive Rights will file three petitions alleging human rights violations with the UN Human Rights Committee next week

The mothers have campaigned since last April – when some of them appeared on the Late Late Show - to change the current situation in Ireland which sees women travel to other jurisdictions for terminations if their babies are suffering with fatal foetal abnormalities.

Various pleas and protests directed at government members failed to garner the necessary support to be included in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 because of fears that the provision would be unconstitutional.

Another demonstration will be held outside Leinster House on Wednesday afternoon ahead of a press conference to discuss the petitions being filed.

Members of TFMR were devastated of the omission from the legislation this year but vowed to take their cases to Europe and beyond.

The women have shared the trauma of having to travel to Liverpool and other English cities to undergo terminations to journalists and politicians in the past eight months.

“We are looking for nothing extreme here. Just decency, dignity and compassion,” Deirdre Conroy, the woman at the centre of the ‘D’ case which was heard at the European Court of Human Rights, said earlier this year.