By Junno Arocho
CORK, DEC. 20, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross released a statement regarding the Irish Governments recent decision to legislate for abortion. Bishop Buckley reaffirmed the stance taken by his fellow prelates that any legislation introducing abortion would go directly against the will of the Irish people.
Citing the vote in 1983 to amend the Irish Constitution to protect the unborn, the Bishop of Cork and Ross said that even the European Court of Human Rights has acknowledged that “there is no reason to believe the Irish people have significantly changed their approach since then.”
“People supporting abortion are blurring the distinction between medical intervention and abortion, which is the direct and intentional killing of the unborn. Ireland without abortion is the world’s leader in safety for pregnant women,” Bishop Buckley wrote.
“Abortion is the most serious threat to human rights.”
Citing the example of St. Thomas More, who before his execution said that he died “as the King’s good servant, but God’s first”, Bishop Buckley supported the call for free vote, echoing the thoughts of four Archbishop’s of Ireland who released a statement several days ago. “Every public representative should vote in accordance with his or her conscience. Conscience is the only whip that matters,” the Bishop of Cork and Ross stated.
Bishop Buckley also cited research that performing “abortion on the grounds of suicide” would eventually lead to abortions on demand. “It is indeed extraordinary to say that the only way to help a depressed or suicidal pregnant woman is to end the life of the unborn,” the Irish prelate stated. “No research has shown that abortion protects against suicide. In fact pregnancy could have a protective effect against suicide.”
Bishop John Buckley concluded his statement calling to mind the irony of the most recent referendum in the Irish government which referred to the rights of children.
“It now seems that the unborn child can be deprived of the most fundamental right of all, the right to life,” he said.
