Stephen Hanlon writes:
With less than 24 hours until voting opens, it would appear that political sabotage has begun in Wicklow town.
Tag Archives: Abortion
The Life Institute has produced a list of candidates [after consulting only Direct Democracy, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Independents] for the local elections who they claim support the following statement:
Do you support the repeal of the legislation which permits abortion on suicide grounds, and support making Ireland a place where unborn children are legally protected and mothers get all necessary life-saving treatment in pregnancy?
Some of the candidates who feature on the list include Paul Anthony Ward (Fianna Fáil), Seán Haughey (Fianna Fáil), and Danny Healy Rae (Independent).
Updated:
Of the 157 (now 163) candidates listed, 144 (now 148) are male and 13 (now 15) female.
This means approximately 92% (now 91%) are men.
Make of that what you will.
Download the list here (last updated 11:00 May 23).
The Life Institute’s guide to the European election is here.
Previously: Ballyhea Says No
Thanks Stephanie
European Election candidate for Ireland South, Diarmuid O’Flynn (centre)
In response to questions posed by the Life Institute on the issue of abortion, we asked European election candidate for Ireland South, Diarmuid O’Flynn (61) if the quotes attributed to him were correct.
The questions and his replies were as follows:
1. Do you support the repeal of the legislation which permits abortion on suicide grounds, and support making Ireland a place where unborn children are legally protected and mothers get all necessary life-saving treatment in pregnancy?
2. Will you oppose measures in the European Parliament which seek to liberalise Ireland’s abortion laws and support pro-life measures such as the One of Us campaign?
“On a purely personal level I disagree with that particular legislation and the suicide clause but as stated in the original mail, it is not a European issue, it is a national issue.
The second, absolutely I would oppose any such measures. There are some questions that are for a nation to decide for itself; this is one.”
@LarsBiscuits Yes. I believe there are certain issues that should be for the individual conscience; that’s one, that’s my personal belief.
— Diarmuid O’Flynn (@ballyhea14) May 17, 2014
He subsequently followed up with a blogpost this morning on the subject:
Abortion
The ugliest word in the dictionary…The only occasion on which I can foresee abortion arising in the EU is as an equal rights/civil right issue. I would vigorously oppose any such imposition on Ireland. Abortion is an area in which we should remain sovereign; this is an issue for Ireland to decide, on its own.
There is life in a foetus, helpless life that needs nourishing and protection. Everything possible should be done to bring that life to the birth stage.
I believe in the equal right to life of the mother and child. If there is a threat to the life of the mother there should be timely medical intervention to save her life. Every effort should also be made to save the life of the child; if this fails, it fails.
I can see why many people believe that such a threat to a mother’s life should include suicide. I don’t agree. I believe this then makes the life of the unborn foetus subservient to the life of the mother.
Even for the most stable, mentally strong woman, abortion is surely a highly emotive decision. A suicidal prospective mother is already suffering serious emotional stress. An abortion will add to that stress.
It’s a lose/lose scenario, a most divisive argument and for very obvious reasons. But there it is. I know that in a situation where I’m going to need every vote I can get this will cost me but given that I’m coming out of nowhere I believe it’s only right people should know who I am.
A Dublin priest has been appointed Bishop of Elphin in the midlands and west of Ireland.
Kevin Doran, 61, was named by Pope Francis to succeed retired Bishop Christopher Jones at the head of the diocese.
Cardinal Sean Brady praised Bishop-elect Doran for his work organising the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.
“His advocacy and championing of the right to life of the unborn child, and his work in promoting vocations to the priesthood, are but two of the many talents and gifts which Bishop-elect Kevin has shared during his priestly ministry for the good of the Church and of our society,” the Cardinal said.
Praise indeed from Sean Brady.
Is this the same Father Kevin Doran, who according to the Irish Independent delayed the treatment of lung cancer patients at Dublin’s Mater Hospital because female patients who could get pregnant would have to take contraceptives under the treatment?
Dublin priest appointed as the new bishop of the midlands and west of Ireland (Irish Times)
Previously: Nothing Really Maters
“Would He Prefer For Both Of Them To Die?”
Pic: YouTube
Demonstration outside Marie Stopes Clinic, Belfast 2012
The High Court in London has ruled women from Northern Ireland are not legally entitled to free abortions on the NHS in England.
The case was brought by a 15-year-old girl (claimant A) and her mother who live in Northern Ireland.
After becoming pregnant, she travelled to England with her mother (claimant B) in October 2012.
The court was told her mother had struggled to part-raise funds to pay for her daughter to have a termination privately in England.
Unlike the rest of the UK, abortion is only allowed in very restricted circumstances in Northern Ireland.
More than 1,000 women each year travel from NI to have an abortion in other parts of the UK.
Those who do travel must pay for their transport, accommodation and the cost of the procedure.
Mr Justice King ruled that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s duty to promote a comprehensive health service in England “is a duty in relation to the physical and mental health of the people of England”, and that duty did not extend “to persons who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland”.
In England, Wales and Scotland access to abortion is covered by the 1967 Abortion Act.
High Court in London says NI women not entitled to free NHS abortions in England (BBC News NI)
Previously: Choice Words
File pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
Guilt-Free
at
‘When Emily Letts got pregnant, she knew she would get an abortion. Then she decided to film it. Letts, 25, is an abortion counsellor at Cherry Hill Women’s Center in New Jersey, which is where she had her abortion. The non-graphic video focuses on her face and shows her breathing and humming through the procedure.
I know there are women who feel great remorse. I have seen the tears. Grieving is an important part of a woman’s process, but what I really wanted to address in my video is guilt.
Our society breeds this guilt. We inhale it from all directions. Even women who come to the clinic completely solid in their decision to have an abortion say they feel guilty for not feeling guilty.
I didn’t feel bad. I do feel a little irresponsible and embarrassed about not using birth control. I was able to learn and move forward. And I am grateful that I can share my story and inspire other women to stop the guilt.’
Why I Filmed My Abortion (Heather Wood Rudulph, Cosmopolitan)
An intervention by pro-choice performance artistes ‘Speaking of I.M.E.L.D.A’ at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in London on Sunday.
Defiant three-piece-with-poppy at 53 seconds.
Speaking of I.M.E.L.D.A (Facebook)
Previously: Meanwhile, At The Camden Irish Centre
A Fine Gael councillor, who was a strong supporter of Enda Kenny during the leadership heave, has avoided conviction for drink-driving for a second time.
In last week’s case before Longford District Court Councillor Frank Kilbride [above], a former showband star, was charged with failing to provide a breath sample at Longford Garda Station on March 24 last year. The case was dismissed because he was not given options to provide blood or urine samples.
In 2007, Mr Kilbride was charged with careless driving and failing to provide a breath or urine sample after a traffic accident near Granard. Gardaí said they had had to take evasive action in their patrol car to avoid a collision with a car approaching on the wrong side of the road. They said they followed it and moments later found the car the councillor was driving was lying on its roof.
Councillor Kilbride who resigned from Fine Gael last July over the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill and subsequently rejoined the party, hosts his own weekly country music show on Sky 191 and has inspired a tribute song to his driving escapades.
Good times.
The Fine Gael councillor (and showband legend) who gets off over a second drink-driving incident (Jennifer Bray,Aisling Kiernan/Irish Daily Mail) [not available online]
Any excuse for the unborn babbies.
Longford Councillor resigns from Fine Gael (Shannonside Radio, July 2013)
