Letters

Need to reach out with great empathy

Sir — I agree with Eilis O’Hanlon in her interesting and balanced article (Sunday Independent, October 1) arguing that the referendum on repeal of the Eighth will not end the abortion debate.

But with regards to a muddled middle on the Sinn Fein/IRA United Ireland question, I’m not sure how there can be a middle ground on whether or not to kill an unborn human being, irrespective of the stage of development in the womb. I accept Eilis’s statistics regarding both extremes in the debate, but would like to believe that the middle group are those who want to reach out in empathy with women in trauma with a pregnancy.

Men who are fathers will have empathy as much as women, many of both sexes in the middle will also have sympathy and compassion. Therefore, there should not be a referendum and the €20m saved can go to support those women who feel so desperate about their unexpected pregnancy.

Many women have been helped in these circumstances and have been pleased to welcome their children into the world. God loves all of us sinners, he cares as much for the atheist and agnostic as he does about a diligent follower. Sean Farrell, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim