Irish Catholic bishops deny they value life of baby over that of mother

The bishops also mince words about fertilization: "Advances in genetics ... make it clear that at fertilisation a new, unique and genetically complete human being comes into existence." IF they read any ordinary account of the biology of reproduction, they will learn that an estimated half to 70 percent of all fertilized human eggs never implant in a woman's uterus but wash away without her knowing. In other words, they never have any possibility of developing into complete human beings. Thus it makes little sense to think of a single-cell fertilized egg or zygote, the union of sperm and ovum, as having a human soul demanding "the highest standard of care and protection." "Genetically complete"? No, the zygote's genes have not yet done any work, not yet produced any organism even remotely resembling a human being, and if implantation doesn't occur, they never will produce any organism. The bishops' magical thinking-- that at fertilization some kind of miniature human being is already present-- belongs to the realm of fantasy or wishful thinking, and not to medical science, and it ought not to replace science.

With carefully chosen words, the bishops have implicated themselves in the death of this unfortunate woman. They say, "we believe in upholding the equal and inalienable right to life of a mother and her unborn child in our laws and medical practice." The bishops know that as long as the woman's right to life does not take precedence over the fetus' right to continue gestating in her uterus, there can be no abortion. An *equal* right to life is not enough when the woman's survival depends-- as it most likely did in Savita's case-- on quick termination of the pregnancy. This is the kind of thinking that allowed Savita to die rather than saving her, and some have said it killed her, along with the fetus that had no hope of survival.

Irish Catholic bishops deny they value life of baby over that of mother....deny all they want, we grew up with this teaching.In fact my Dad made sure we were all born in a Protestant hospital for that very reason. Of course the real reason is the money and soul of the child. Roman church has already cashed in on the mother- through her birth cert, so a new birth cert for the child, born through her waters means lots of money and a bond/birth cert to trade daily for profit.Always follow the money. BAR Gold, etc

Did either of you ever take a Cathoic Medical Ethics class? I have and even though you're 65, you are incorrect. BTW I'm 66.

My, what short memories these old men have. I'm 65 and I was taught that the fetus came first! Please don't insult the intelligence of the Catholic faithful with your lies (although you are being very consistent).

Do these bishops wake up every morning and take BS pills. If they have concern for the mother then why are they against abortion? Hypocrits.