Catholic politicians lacked courage on abortion issue

WORLD War II ended in 1945. The Fianna Fáil government then in power created a new ministry for health, and Seán MacEntee became health minister. Problems such as high infant mortality and increased concerns on the spread of TB were addressed in the much-delayed White Paper in 1947, followed by the Health Act 1947.

This Fianna Fáil Health Act was considered by the President and on the advice of the Council of State was not referred to the Supreme Court.

However, the 1948 General Election resulted in the surprise fall of Fianna Fáil from government, and instead the first inter-party government, led by John A Costello of Fine Gael, would be left with the responsibility of implementing the provisions of the White Paper in the hands of Dr Noel Browne, of Clann na Poblachta.

It is interesting that the issues of abortion and contraception were raised during the Mother and Child controversy in 1948. Bishop Staunton wrote to the Taoiseach, Mr Costello, acting on behalf of the hierarchy, among other things expressing concern about the State taking over gynaecological care of mothers, which in other countries

was taken to include contraception and abortion, stating “we have no guarantee that State officials will respect Catholic principles in these matters”. Dr Browne, health minister in the Fine Gael coalition, replied that “the education in respect of motherhood would relate to diet during pregnancy and the avoidance of smoking”. Mr Costello said in a further letter, “this country is predominantly Catholic, as is the medical profession”.

He went on to say there was an adequate and zealous clergy to bring any practices contrary to Catholic teaching to the fore and to instruct its flock appropriately. In addition to the antiMother and Child scheme adopted by the

Catholic hierarchy, many in the Anglican Church disagreed with the scheme. ‘The Church of Ireland Gazette’ saw it as “communist interference in the family”.

Our current Catholic politicians did not have the courage to speak out and take inspiration from John A Costello.

“I, as a Catholic, obey my Church authorities and will continue to do so, in spite of the ‘Irish Times’ or anything else, in spite of the fact that they may take votes from me or my party.”

This is advice from the leader of the Fine Gael party that brought the party from near extinction in the 1948 election.

Hugh Duffy

Cleggan, Co Galway