Phil Lang writes:

I was wondering if you would be interested in publishing some data and graphs [I did up today] on the number of Irish women who travelled to Great Britain in 2011 for abortions?

LangPhil.com

Statistics from the UK Department of Health website .

Jessica Maybury Writes:

As a Catholic, I believe that all Catholics are part of the Church in a very real way. We are the Church. I am the stance that prophylactics  are wrong, I am the belief that marriage is between a woman and a man, I am the wealth of the Vatican.

The Constitution of Ireland states that the Catholic Church has a special place, and it is tangled up in our law system all the way through. The archbishop of Dublin at the time actually advised them as they drew it up. I guess things were still like that then. I mean, even in America, it still says In God We Trust on their dollar bills.

Being a young Catholic in the 21st Century is tough. Being a member of MYAM [Malahide Young Adults Missionary] is wonderful but also hard, for the same reasons.

I’ve withstood constant vituperation by more anti-Christian atheists. I’ve borne out my own personal struggles with what I’ve been taught and what I, deep down, believe are the qualities of human kindness.

I was a volunteer during the 50th Eucharistic Congress here in Dublin, despite inner turbulence about it. I’ve pondered, silently,  what I think Christ would be doing if He were on earth with us today, and how far the Church is removed from what He said and how he lived when he was among us.

I cannot, however, stand by and remain silent about the death of Savita Halappanavar.

If I could have my beliefs and adhere to them in my own life; if they didn’t affect other people the way they have done, yes, of course, I would. Nobody else should have to suffer for what I think is right.

So that means I need to change the way I think, the way I am, and who and what I am.

Doesn’t it.

Thoughts of a Practising Catholic on the death of Savita Halappanavar (Jessica Maybury, Vetanda)

Earlier: What You Can Do

Why?

Thanks Jessica

Legislative or medical neglect?

Tomorrow’s Irish Times and Irish Independent.

Covers via Mike Hogan

Women Denied A Termination’ Dies In Hospital (Kitty Holland and Paul Cullen, Irish Times)

Two Investigations Into Death Of Woman After Galway Miscarriage (RTE)

Savita Halappanavar, who was 17 weeks pregnant, died of septicaemia a week after presenting with back pain on 21 October at University hospital in Galway, where she was found to be miscarrying.
After the 31-year-old dentist was told that she was miscarrying, her husband reportedly said that she had asked for a medical termination a number of times over a three day period, during which she was in severe pain.
But he said these requests were denied because a foetal heartbeat was still present and they were told at one point: “This is a Catholic country.”
Medical staff removed the dead foetus days later after the heartbeat stopped but Halappanavar died of septicaemia on 28 October.

Scandal In Ireland As Woman Dies in Galway ‘After Being Denied Abortion’ (Guardian)

Never?

Never.

“In a small number of cases, however, the treatment given may unintentionally result in the death of the unborn child. But in such cases the life is never directly and intentionally taken and everything is done to save the child. The key moral issue, therefore, for Catholics is that the life of the unborn can never be taken intentionally.”

 

John Fleming, Bishop of Killala

 

Abortion Is Never The Basis For A Humane Or Compassionate Solution (John Fleming, Irish Times)

Many countries are condemned in the West for organised religion and its effect on peoples lives.
Societies throw their arms up in horror if countries like Iran or Afghanistan deny women basic rights.
They tend, however, not to mention Ireland…

Oh

Watch here

Tamara Levy writes:

In response to your Ad Nauseum post it would appear that the Life Institute [see letter below] were acting within the parameters of the law, in that they were only advertising a concept and not a product or service.

So, essentially, it’s OK to sell BS. Facts aren’t required in paid advertising space unless they relate to a product or service. Good to know. Off I go to buy some ad space for my unique “Obama invented tangles in Christmas lights as a means of pissing you off at Christmas” campaign.

From Orla Twomey, Assistant Chief Executive of ASAI [Advertisign Standards Authority of Ireland}.
“Dear Ms. Levey,
I refer to your complaint concerning the above mentioned advertising.
The function of the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland is to
ensure that advertisers comply with the requirements of the Code of Standards for Advertising, Promotional and Direct Marketing in Ireland and to investigate complaints concerning commercial advertisements that may be considered to
be in breach of the Code.The Code applies to advertisements which have a commercial objective i.e. the sale of a product or a service. Advertisements whose principal purpose is to express the advertisers’ position on a political, religious or industrial relations matter or on an issue of public interest or concern are outside the scope of the Code.
As the advertisement in question is intended to mainly influence opinion about a matter of public interest, you will appreciate that it is outside the jurisdiction of the ASAI and that we are therefore unable to purse your complaint under the Code.We have, however, brought your complaint to the attention of the advertisers without disclosing your name and address so that they may be aware of your views. Even though we are unable to be of assistance to you in this case, we would like to thank you for taking the time to let us know your concerns in the matter”