'Right to Life Is the Most Fundamental of All Rights'

Four Archbishops of Ireland Release Statement on Government Legislation for Abortion

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By Junno Arocho

DUBLIN, DEC. 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Four Irish Archbishops of Ireland released a statement regarding the Irish government’s recent legislation on abortion, saying that it should be “of the utmost concern to all.”

The statement was written by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin; Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel & Emly; and Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam.

The four prelates said that if such legislation passes in Ireland, “the careful balance between the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child in current law and medical practice in Ireland would be fundamentally changed.”

“This can never be morally justified in any circumstances,” the statement affirmed.

The Archbishops stated that the Irish Supreme Court’s decision had “unilaterally overturned” the pro-life wishes of the Irish people. Passing legislation based on what they described as a “flawed judgement would be both tragic and unnecessary.”

“The dignity of the human person and the common good of humanity depend on our respect for the right to life of every person from the moment of conception to natural death. The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights. It is the very basis for every other right we enjoy as persons,” the statement read.

The Irish prelates also stated that the lives of unborn children are in the hands of public representatives. Those representatives, the statement continued, would be faced with an unavoidable question: “will I chose to defend and vindicate the equal right to life of a mother and the child in her womb in all circumstances, or will I chose to licence the direct and intentional killing of the innocent baby in the womb?”

The four Archbishops of Ireland concluded their statement calling on the Irish people, as well as legislators to consider the moral questions that will inevitably arise from the government’s decision.

“We encourage all to pray that our public representatives will be given the wisdom and courage to do what is right,” the statement read.

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