Opinion: Day of shame as Ireland rejects legal protection of unborn child

Ken Orr: Support for repeal is a consequence of the sexual revolution which has embraced contraception.

The repeal of Article 8 of the Irish constitution represents the tyranny of the born over the unborn, a victory for born women over their unborn sisters waiting to be born.

The citizens of Ireland have voted overwhelmingly 66.4 % in a referendum to repeal Article 8 of the Irish constitution. Article 8 was installed in the Constitution in 1983, it acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother.

It was a sad day for humanity, justice and the protection of the right to life of the unborn the weakest and most defenceless member of the human family. Ireland has stood nearly alone in Europe in the courageous defence of life. It has been subject to relentless pressure from the United Nations, the European Union, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Amnesty International and the media to change its laws to allow for the killing of its children in the womb.

The Catholic Bishops Conference in Ireland stated before the referendum;

The right to life "is not given to us by the Constitution of Ireland or by any law. We have it 'as of right', whether we are wealthy or poor, healthy or sick. All human beings have it.

For us as a society to now declare that any category of human being should have that right taken from them would be a shocking step, that is a manifest injustice."

The bishops said making abortion freely available "desensitises people to the value of every human life. The scientific evidence about the beginning of human life has never been clearer. It is, therefore, a great irony that we in Ireland are for the first time in our history losing our clarity about the right to life of the unborn."

"A compassionate society will do all in its power to support and love the mother and baby, and encourage responsible support from fathers," they said, while it was "our common humanity that convinces us of the right to life of every human being."

The government of Fine Gael which opposed the repeal of Article 8 has pledged to bring a bill to the Irish Parliament that would provide unrestricted access to abortion during the first 12 weeks, subject to medical advice and a period of reflection.

After 12 weeks abortion would be permitted if two doctors agreed that the woman's life is threatened or there could be serious harm to her health. Abortions will not be permitted after the unborn child becomes viable to live outside the womb at 24 weeks.

An exit poll conducted by the Irish Times reveals that the greatest support for repeal came from those aged 18 to 24 who voted 87% in support followed by those aged 25 to 34 who supported repeal by 83%.

Support for repeal is a consequence of the sexual revolution which has embraced contraception, rejected child bearing from sexual intercourse and claims that we need abortion as a backup for failed contraception. The unborn child has thus become an innocent victim of this revolution.

When materialism reigns and brings utilitarianism, society no longer acknowledges unalienable rights. The pursuit of pleasure thus becomes the highest goal.

The tragic referendum experience is a warning to our nation that we should oppose the campaign of the Prime Minister to reform New Zealand abortion laws.

The repeal of Article 8 now means that the most dangerous place for an Irish person is in its mother's womb.

* Ken Orr is the Spokesperson for Right to Life.