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09 / 01 / 2013 - Precious Life say Irish Government must not `medicalise` the crime of abortion
Precious Life is warning of the dangers of the Irish government "medicalising the crime of abortion."
The Irish Government has begun (Jan 8) a series of hearings in the Oireachtas to gather opinions for their abortion Bill. They claim they will introduce legislation for "abortion in limited circumstances."
By discussing abortion in the Oireachtas Health Committee, the Irish government is trying to 'medicalise' the crime of abortion.
Abortion is not a health issue. It is a very serious criminal offence under sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861. The core purpose of these sections is for the protection of the unborn child. This, however, does not stop doctors from providing all genuine life-saving treatment that a pregnant mother may require. This is fundamentally different from the crime of abortion.
The 1861 Act, which applies in both jurisdictions, is an all-Ireland safeguard for unborn children. So if the Irish government legalises abortion in 'certain circumstances' then lawmakers will in fact become lawbreakers.
Mrs Johanna Higgins of the Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland said, "Abortion cannot be ‘legal in certain circumstances’; this is stating the law upside down – Abortion is a criminal offence and has nothing to do with medical treatment. It must remain firmly in the criminal law." In February 2012, Mrs Higgins published the first ever legal document on abortion - 'Statement of Law against Abortion and Child Destruction in Northern Ireland'.
In October 2012, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland referred to the Offences Against The Person Act when he stated clearly, “Abortion in Northern Ireland is a criminal offence.”
There is no will from the people in Ireland to legalise abortion. In 2008, the leaders of the four main political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly signed a joint statement opposing the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act [read statement here…]. The people of the Irish Republic have rejected abortion in numerous referendums over the past 30 years."
There can be no compromise on the absolute protection of human life. The message that must continually be hammered home is that abortion is a criminal issue not a medical issue. The danger of the Irish Government legalising any form of limited abortion is that it will open the floodgates to abortion-on-demand. The Irish Government must heed the views of the vast majority of people in Ireland - north and south - who want our unborn children to remain protected, in law, policy, and practice.
Bernadette Smyth
Director
PRECIOUS LIFE
The Irish Government has begun (Jan 8) a series of hearings in the Oireachtas to gather opinions for their abortion Bill. They claim they will introduce legislation for "abortion in limited circumstances."
By discussing abortion in the Oireachtas Health Committee, the Irish government is trying to 'medicalise' the crime of abortion.
Abortion is not a health issue. It is a very serious criminal offence under sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861. The core purpose of these sections is for the protection of the unborn child. This, however, does not stop doctors from providing all genuine life-saving treatment that a pregnant mother may require. This is fundamentally different from the crime of abortion.
The 1861 Act, which applies in both jurisdictions, is an all-Ireland safeguard for unborn children. So if the Irish government legalises abortion in 'certain circumstances' then lawmakers will in fact become lawbreakers.
Mrs Johanna Higgins of the Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland said, "Abortion cannot be ‘legal in certain circumstances’; this is stating the law upside down – Abortion is a criminal offence and has nothing to do with medical treatment. It must remain firmly in the criminal law." In February 2012, Mrs Higgins published the first ever legal document on abortion - 'Statement of Law against Abortion and Child Destruction in Northern Ireland'.
In October 2012, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland referred to the Offences Against The Person Act when he stated clearly, “Abortion in Northern Ireland is a criminal offence.”
There is no will from the people in Ireland to legalise abortion. In 2008, the leaders of the four main political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly signed a joint statement opposing the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act [read statement here…]. The people of the Irish Republic have rejected abortion in numerous referendums over the past 30 years."
There can be no compromise on the absolute protection of human life. The message that must continually be hammered home is that abortion is a criminal issue not a medical issue. The danger of the Irish Government legalising any form of limited abortion is that it will open the floodgates to abortion-on-demand. The Irish Government must heed the views of the vast majority of people in Ireland - north and south - who want our unborn children to remain protected, in law, policy, and practice.
Bernadette Smyth
Director
PRECIOUS LIFE
