Strength of character needed to uphold Eighth Amendment, says archbishop
STRENGTH of character is needed to ensure the equal right to life of mothers and unborn babies, according to the archbishop of Armagh who issued his strongest statement yet on the Eighth Amendment yesterday.
His comments follow a commitment from Government to hold a citizens’ convention on the place of the Eighth Amendment in the Constitution.
Speaking yesterday at a celebration to mark the 30th All Ireland Rosary Rally at Knock shrine, Archbishop Eamon Martin said: ‘In the Ireland of 2016 it takes real strength of character to hold to the fundamental right to life of both a mother and her unborn baby, and especially so in the face of pressure from those who wish to radically redefine Ireland’s social agenda in the name of progression and personal choice above all else.
Addressing a large crowd, he went on to say: ‘Sadly there are those who question Ireland’s constitutional commitment to the equal life and dignity of a mother and the unborn child. May we never forget that the defenceless unborn child is a real, human person, worthy of love and protection.’
He added: ‘Equally, may we never fail to have a heart for those mothers, and indeed fathers, who sometimes feel in crisis following the conception of their child.’
He called for the crowd to join in prayer with those at a pro-life campaign protest in the capital yesterday where speakers said they feared more access to abortion would put babies with disabilities in a more vulnerable position.
Sinéad Desmond of Action for Choice said yesterday: ‘The Catholic Church’s position on this remains constant and, as a religious leader, archbishop Martin is entitled to his views.
‘But I don’t know if the Catholic Church should be lecturing anybody on respect for women and children in this country given their own particular legacy… I don’t think we should be taking lessons in morality from the Catholic Church on women and children.’
She added that plans for a citizens’ convention are still unclear.