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Thank you for visiting our blog. We want this to be a rich and informative discussion forum and look forward to your participation. You can visit our website at www.prolifecampaign.ie or email us on info@prolifecampaign.ie







Saturday, January 26, 2013

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Massive crowd attend Vigil For Life


We are absolutely thrilled with the turnout for today's Vigil For Life which drew a crowd of well over 20,000. 
The crowd gathered at Merrion Square
"On a bitterly cold January afternoon when it was predicted that the weather would keep people away, Irish people turned out in many thousands to register their opposition to abortion legislation," PLC Legal Advisor Caroline Simons said.
Ms Simons told the crowd that claims by the Government that abortion was needed to treat threatened suicide in pregnancy had been "completely demolished at last week’s Oireachtas hearings on abortion"
She said: "The psychiatrists who addressed the hearings were unanimous that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal ideation." 
"There is no evidence whatever that suggests that abortion reduces the mental health risks of unwanted or mistimed pregnancy. But there is evidence that abortion increases the risk of future mental health problems for a significant number of women."
"If the Government legislates for abortion on the basis of the X case, this legislation would cure no woman of suicidal ideation, but it would put some women's lives at risk."
The international pro-choice movement, she said, viewed Ireland as a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the pro-life movement. 
"We are a beacon for the pro-life movement everywhere. Let’s fight to keep that light shining," she said. 
Speaking at the Vigil, Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte said that "Quite frankly I am most concerned that this Government proposes to legislate for abortion". 
"Ireland is almost unique in the Western world in looking out for, and fully protecting, two patients during a pregnancy – a mother and her unborn child," he said.  "We are here to oppose the unjust targeting of even one unborn child's life in circumstances that have nothing to do with genuine life-saving medical interventions".
Referring to the high standard of medical care in pregnancy, he said this high standard needs to "remain enshrined in our laws not undermined or diluted in any way".
He continued: "No individual or nation is perfect – we all have our faults and failings but when it comes to life before birth, we have a value system, an ethos which we should proudly share with the rest of the world."  
And he urged those at the vigil to "keep in touch with Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore and let them know repeatedly that the middle ground of Irish opinion opposes what they are proposing." 
You can see photos of the Vigil For Life here.    

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Nothing in ethics or law prevented an intervention in the case of Savita Halappanavar


Responding to reports that the medical notes by a consultant who treated Ms Savita Halappanavar indicate she requested a termination of her pregnancy, Dr. Berry Kiely of the Pro Life Campaign said:

“While we await the full outcome of the coroner’s inquest, it is worth stating that there is nothing in ethics or law that prevents doctors from intervening in such a situation to induce delivery in order to complete a miscarriage.”



Sunday, January 13, 2013

An Taoiseach totally misrepresents Fine Gael's pre-election pro-life commitment


Referring to remarks made by An Taoiseach Mr Enda Kenny on today’s This Week programme on RTÉ, Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said the Taoiseach totally misrepresented the Fine Gael Party’s pre-election promise on abortion.


An Taoiseach Enda Kenny


In the interview, the Taoiseach described the commitment as no more than “a letter in some cases” sent to people.


“In reality,” Ms Sherlock said “it was a written commitment formally sent to the Pro Life Campaign on the 17th February 2011.   The commitment said that the Fine Gael Party would not introduce legislation for abortion and that both mothers and babies would be protected in pregnancy.”


Meanwhile, the Pro Life Campaign has welcomed the comments of former Taoiseach, John Bruton, on today’s Marian Finucane Show, that abortion in cases of threatened suicide should not be included in any proposals brought forward by the Government. Mr. Bruton pointed out that in the Oireachtas Hearings on Abortion in 2000, the then Government was presented with evidence showing the prediction of suicide was wrong 97% of the time.


Ms Sherlock added, “At last week’s Oireachtas Hearings, the argument for abortion in cases of threatened suicide effectively collapsed. Abortion in such cases, far from helping women, has the potential to put their lives at risk. This is what the peer-reviewed evidence actually shows. The only reason abortion in the case of threatened suicide is being mentioned in the debate is because it is part of the flawed X case ruling. It would be reckless disregard for the lives of women in pregnancy and their babies to introduce a law that lacks an evidence-based foundation.”