The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has sympathised with the family of Savita Halappanavar and described her death as a ‘terrible disaster’.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin spoke for the first time after Savita died after doctors at a Galway hospital refused to terminate her pregnancy and save her life.
The leading cleric told mass goers: “Here’s a family that six weeks ago was going into what should have been one of the happiest moments of their life - the birth of a new child.
“Now the whole thing has collapsed into a terrible disaster . You just don’t know how the father is standing up to such a terrible disaster.”
The Irish Times has reported that the Archbishop told parishoners that he was however taken aback by some of the reaction to the news of Savita’s death.
Speaking after tens of thousands attended vigils in Savita’s honor over the weekend, he refuted claims that Ireland is not a ‘safe place’ to be pregnant.
The Archbishop added: “I was a little distressed at some of the reaction: somebody saying, for example, Ireland isn’t a safe place to be pregnant.
“The facts show us we have in fact one of the lowest levels of maternal mortality in the world, which means that whatever practices we have are producing the results that we should respect and respect the commitment of our doctors, nurses, midwives and others who put them into practice every day with very positive results. ”
He also told his flock that he remains proud of nationality in spite of international criticism.
“In the face of all the international attention the controversy has caused, I am not ashamed to be Irish at this time,” he stressed.
“When I look at the standards of maternal care that exist in this country and I would hope that we will be able to maintain that”.
“Most doctors would go through their entire career without ever losing a patient coming to them in childbirth. In developing countries the sad thing is that this does occur and even in some developed countries.”
Asked by the paper about the silence of church figures, including himself, since news of the Savita tragedy emerged, he said they did not know what had happened in the case.
He said: “I don’t know the details of what happened.
“Catholic teaching in medical ethics is to save lives and the practice in the country shows that in so many conflictual situations the end product is saving lives.
“That may also be due, to an extent, to the pro-life ethos of all our doctors and nurses, Catholic, non-Catholic or non-believers. They have been scrupulous in ensuring the highest quality of care.”
Asked about the need for political involvement in the case, he said: “I don’t know. All I’ll say is that overall the level of maternal mortality is extremely low by international standards, which means that something is working.
“Where there have been conflicts they have been resolved - and they have been resolved, it would seem to me, in a successful way.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.eiriamach | Jan 12, 2013, 09:01 AM EST
Eamonn has not replied to the question I put to him about his statistic, "that last year, ELEVEN women died in childbirth in England after contracting septicaemia." My question is 'How many of the 11 women who died of septicemia in England were Irish women whose doctors referred them to the UK for abortion of health- or life-endangering pregnancies?' Irish law prohibits abortion even when the fetus has lethal anomalies. When existing Irish law sends women to prison for life (the 1861 anti-abortion law), women delay, sometimes too long, and life-threatening problems develop. How many of those UK deaths were Irish women sent abroad to seek life-saving medical care?
mreinhar2001 | Nov 21, 2012, 03:18 PM EST
Oh, BTW, I think that EamonnDublin has some very valid points to make about the contraction and care for septicaemia.
mreinhar2001 | Nov 21, 2012, 03:12 PM EST
As another author described, the media jumped on the bandwagon in this tragic case before all the facts had been made public. It is legal in Ireland to abort if the mother's life is in jeopardy. There is also an ethical aspect in Roman Catholicism called the Principle of Double Effect. I am not a trained ethicist, but Portia777, I think that would be the case here so hating the Roman Catholic Church is not in order. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy says of Double Effect, "It is claimed that sometimes it is permissible to cause such a harm as a side effect (or “double effect”) of bringing about a good result even though it would not be permissible to cause such a harm as a means to bringing about the same good end." SO saving the mother's life by allowing the baby to die might be permissible. (Though I have seen that denied elsewhere.)I think that in the end run, we as media consumers just do not know all the facts so the hating must stop.
richard cahill | Nov 21, 2012, 01:09 PM EST
If ignorance were manure there would be roses on this page
richard cahill | Nov 21, 2012, 12:23 PM EST
this series of comments with a few honourable exceptions support the view that the truth ought not get in the way of invinciblebigoted ignorance. 1 . if the mother's life was lost on the basis that a decision was made not to terminate the pregnancy on the mistaken view that such a procedure was unlawful then it is possible that a doctor or doctors might be prosecuted for culpable homicide. First it would have to be shown that termination would as a matter of fact have been essential to save the life of the mother. had that been the case then not terminating the pregnancy might be shown to have been to be the cause of the mother's death. What if there had been a termination and the mother's life had been saved would the doctors be free of prosecution? Not necessarily so! Don't forg et that the State stopped "X" from trying to get an abortion in the UK by depriving her of her constitutional right (unenumerated) to travel! So all it would take was for the State to decide that the termination was not (really)necessary therefore the doctors could be prosecuted under the Offences against the Person Act 1861. So who can tell me that "clarity" is not required?
anglo-norman | Nov 20, 2012, 11:14 PM EST
more moral cowardice from the people of Ireland.
Gearoid4 | Nov 20, 2012, 06:19 PM EST
More unthinking nonsense Norm, which shows an unwillingness to reflect on this tragic situation which has not even reached the inquiry stage yet.
anglo-norman | Nov 20, 2012, 04:27 PM EST
This all proves again the real enemy of Ireland was the Catholic Corporation. Wake up ffs...
Gearoid4 | Nov 20, 2012, 02:48 PM EST
Idiotic comments from Joe, in view of the less-than-clear circumstances which caused the young woman's death, and the inquiry stage has not been reached yet. This is indicative of the unthinking attitude of a lot of people regarding this tragedy, which requires less ideological posturing and campaigning and more reflection.
EamonnDublin | Nov 20, 2012, 12:01 PM EST
By the way, Joe, your comment that the doctors in Galway committed manslaughter is a libellous comment. You really should be more careful. If the doctors take exception to it, it might cost you a lot of money. You really should wait for the result of the Inquiry before you come out with dangerous stuff like that. Éamonn.
EamonnDublin | Nov 20, 2012, 11:51 AM EST
"JoeKelsall" - For your info, I am not a practicing Catholic. I do indeed say the odd prayer - but usually when I have a problem. I find it helps me personally. You please do whatever you want, but let me do what I want as long as I am not hurting anybody. Now, Joe, exactly where have you discovered that the good doctors and/or nurses in Galway are guilty of manslaughter? I should like to know. Have you informed the Inquiry of this knowledge of yours? As for England, I spent 21 years there - and I came back to Ireland to raise my children here. Speaking of England, for whose people I have the height of respect and admiration, I understand that last year, ELEVEN women died in childbirth in England after contracting septicaemia. Now, Joe, England is NOT a Catholic country - and England ALLOWS abortion, more or less on demand. So, Joe, I wonder why those eleven women died? Was that manslaughter also? I don't believe it was. Was it because of the Church of England, or the Muslims, or the Presbyterians, or the Methodists, or the Atheists? I don't believe it was. Was it because the doctors and/or nurses are "inhumane" (of which ours have been accused because of the recent death)? I don't believe it was. I believe that everybody will have done their utmost to save these most unfortunate women. However, I am sure that you, with your apparent "inside" knowledge of such matters, will educate the rest of us with all of the facts. So, please do tell, Joe - why did the eleven women die? Oh, and Joe, you really should try to stop hurling insults around the place - it is very childish, it lowers the tone a lot, and it detracts from any argument you might think you are putting forward. Éamonn, Dublin, (Extremely Proud to be Irish).
Mousey123 | Nov 20, 2012, 10:11 AM EST
But not enough of a disaster to prevent another one just like it from happening oh say, this afternoon, eh, archbishop?
Joe Kelsall | Nov 20, 2012, 10:06 AM EST
EamonnDublin: What a bloviated ignorant fool you are. Jeez, your knees must be worn out praying? This is a straighforward storyof doctors putting religious dogma before duty. Manslaughter in fact. You mmay be proud to be Irish but Ireland does not need your kind. You should have been interred with DeValera! I , also, hail from Ireland and I am now a 'blow in' in the UK where the MOTHER'S life has priority. That is how it should be. The Christian witch doctors have got you fooled.
mreinhar2001 | Nov 20, 2012, 10:01 AM EST
I appreciate that PATRICK COUNIHAN provided liberal quotes in this article rather than side-snippety opinion as we have seen in some yellow journalism of past weeks, here.
stanchaz | Nov 20, 2012, 06:09 AM EST
Sandy was a "terrible disaster". THIS death is the product of closed minds, and is purely man-made. THIS death was caused by men who have perverted the words of Christ, and are denying the TRUE Christian message. For the BIG GUY didn't go around preaching fear and hate, nor did HE rail against birth control ...or abortion....or gay marriage. HIS words and HIS message were simple and "down to earth": 1 Corinthians 13 / The Greatest Gift: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I know that their are many good people out there that call themselves Catholic ...many good people searching for answers, searching for community, and searching for a way. ...in this all-too-harsh world. There's only one thing I can say to you: think for yourself, be yourself, trust yourself. Don't just accept something because it comes from a "voice of authority". For ultimately YOU are responsible for your life, and how you try to live it. That’s why you have freedom of choice and a conscience: to choose, NOT just to follow....
EamonnDublin | Nov 20, 2012, 03:32 AM EST
"Kickstar" - Well said. Shure we just LOVE scourging ourselves! Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely PROUD TO BE IRISH - where the rate of death in childbirth is one of the very lowest in the world.
kickstar | Nov 20, 2012, 01:33 AM EST
I never in my life thought I would live to witness such a spineless display of gutlessness from Irish politicians, who are running like scalded rats for cover, over an issue they had not the intestinal fortitude to deal with in twenty years. And of course the Church is a useful whipping boy at this painful time, when the have to confront their ugly mugs in the mirror, I'm just waiting for one of them to utter 'God made us do it'. As tragic as the death of a beautiful young woman and her baby in childbirth was, it surely was not cause for the overthrow of the state, or the condemnation of our race and each and every aspect of our culture. It is times like this that one generally sees the people come forward against the state who are not really secure in their culture, or have another axe to grind, But to see the editor of this publication Niall o' Dowd basically fold in an interview on Aljazerra, was the limit, considering the facts of this case are not even fully known at present, Mr O Dowd hung his head in shame for his nation quite voluntarily, and accepted that the medical staff in Galway were guilty of gross malpractice, and as a nation without any type of Abortion we were a disgrace.
tombegs | Nov 19, 2012, 11:33 PM EST
Didn't see my earlier post. So here goes again. I grew up in Mass as the child of Irish immigrant parents (from Dingle, Co. Kerry to be specific) I remember that my mom and all of her friends/relatives used the same OBGYN physician to guide them during their pregnancies. Much later, I asked her how come she paid so much money we honestly didn't have at the time (same for most of her firends). Her reply, one I will never forget, and only later understood completely. "Dr Fortin never lost a mother." To this day, I have a mass said for Dr. Fortin and have menitoned him in my will so that this tribute will conginue as long as the Church says Masses. I was 8 years old when one of my firends and his six siblings were leaving the Mercy (Catholic, obviously but very short on mercy at that time) were leaving the hospital in tears after their mother died in childbirth. Obviously the "unborn" died too. I will never forget my mother's words: What a waste. They should all be ashamed. God will punish them.
jacersagain | Nov 19, 2012, 09:09 PM EST
Eh, well…the posters below, with one or two exceptions, show how little they know about the supremely highly-rated Irish medical care of pregnant women or of its ethos. The ethos is not religiously-based at all, you fools… Know your facts before you splurge your ignorance for the whole world to read. Irish Central and its comments, including mine, are hugely read around the world. “By the shine on their shoes you will know them…”… Huh? Me arse! By the dagger of their written words they display themselves as ignorant fools. We all know that, shine or no shine.
anglo-norman | Nov 19, 2012, 07:52 PM EST
What an insult to that poor girls family
lcobryan | Nov 19, 2012, 07:40 PM EST
What has been lacking in this entire discussion is the knowledge of the dentist, HERSELF. Albeit not an MD, she never the less was fully aware of infections and blood poisoning. She knew she was dying. Can anyone imagine that horror and her looking at these dopes- who could have made the call and removed the contagion? The Galway doctors were professionally derelict. This highly educated, essential medical service provider and TAX PAYER to Ireland, not to mention someone who was loved and cherished by many- a REALITY was lost do to a not even potentiality. I am PRO LIFE- meaning I AM PRO CHOICE. My body my decision. We are not hand maidens or baby machines. The sperm is not sacred. The egg decides. Ireland, congratulations on your outpouring of sympathy and disgust. Please, Please acknowledge the horror this woman was put through. What a horrible, unnecessary way to die. Chuck the church, that does hate women and get on with being a secular society. You are a small country. It is the only way you will succeed.
EamonnDublin | Nov 19, 2012, 06:57 PM EST
Sean - "Meanspirited"? I didn't think so - I rather thought it was bone-shakingly to the point. As you know, some countries have a culture of aborting babies simply because they are female, hence my comment to Ciara. If we are to have ferociously insulting outbursts against the Irish on the boards and in the media, surely a few home truths, albeit shocking, are to be allowed. As for my "Best Wishes" offering, you might remember that Ciara and I had a playful online verbal "flirt" a few months ago - my "Best Wishes" offering was a throwback to that and was not even in the most remote crevice of my mind considered to be a "sneer". Similarly, because you and I have a "history" of some mutuality, you will notice that I now always offer your good self my "Best Wishes" - as I again do, without any question of its being offered in any way but the best intentions, as I did to Ciara. Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely Proud to be Irish.
markday | Nov 19, 2012, 04:50 PM EST
Therre is no mention in the cardin inal's comments about Catholic moral teaching in this matter. I learned in the seminary 43 years ago that it is permissable to abort a fetus to save a mother's life. I doubt if that teaching changed. Why didn't the cardinal say that and add that he is looking into the practices at the Galway hospital. All he did was give a shout out to Irish nationalism. Save that for St. Patrick's Day.
seanomelb | Nov 19, 2012, 04:24 PM EST
Post Gone!!! Eamonn your reply to Ciaradexy was a little meanspirited and your "best wishes" sign off more like a sneer.
seanomelb | Nov 19, 2012, 04:17 PM EST
The cardinal "felt sorry" for the death but did not conemn the method and by his silence he condones the methods used. His apaology is a slap in the face andand only hurts the family involved.
EamonnDublin | Nov 19, 2012, 02:29 PM EST
Ciara, Just as well for you that you were born in Ireland. If you were from some other countries, you might not be here at all - especially with being female and all that! Best Wishes, Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely Proud to be Irish.
pilib04 | Nov 19, 2012, 01:32 PM EST
Gombeenman is the proper description for him.
EamonnDublin | Nov 19, 2012, 01:08 PM EST
"Joe Kelsall", So YOU know all the details of the tragic lady's death? Please do pass on this knowledge - you are one of the very few who know. Please include what you know about the Catholic church's instructions in the maternity unit. Also please include what you know about "neglect" in the matter. Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely Proud to be Irish.
cucullen0 | Nov 19, 2012, 12:10 PM EST
This incident is a window into the type of medieval morality which Ryan, Aiken, Mourdock, et al., want to inflict upon America's women. Something I have not heard in this controversy is that, given the atmosphere of religious belief in which her doctors practiced and which they apparently embraced without question, it may well have been that they were not competent to evaluate whether, when and how procedures that would have saved her life should have been administered. One is left to wonder how many Irish women have suffered the same fate and whose families have been silenced by fear of offending the church. This is the environment of medical ignorance that the rabid anti-choice movement wish to impose here.
Joe Kelsall | Nov 19, 2012, 12:06 PM EST
Another pompous bloated bishop lying through his teeth! He must be the only man in the world who has not read the details of this lady's death. This has NOTHING to do with infants child death statistics.The child was dead and the mother died from neglect.When are these holy men going to take reponsibility for their erroneous beliefs?
ciaradexy | Nov 19, 2012, 12:05 PM EST
irl, Sweden and Italy have abortion and those countries are better again than here for maternal mortality. As an irish woman, i want the option of abortion available to me and my female family and friends.
EamonnDublin | Nov 19, 2012, 11:58 AM EST
Such hatred on these boards! Such venomous, viciously anti-Catholic and even totally libellous comments. They make very sad reading, indeed I fear for the sanity of some of the posters and I also feel very sad for those who might have to live with them. Having a point of view, even a very strong point of view, is one thing and can be admirable, but to border on the evil - and often to go way over the border - betrays a certain diseased rationality, a rabid, drooling, salivating type of sheer hatred and evil. What is even more saddening is the fact that Irish Central sees fit to publish these comments. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
blackstone | Nov 19, 2012, 11:00 AM EST
Irish Central is the heart of darkness,a progressive propaganda machine.
irl32csc | Nov 19, 2012, 10:57 AM EST
It is still safer to give birth in Ireland. Maternal Deaths per 100,000 births by Country Ireland ranked 6th - 5.7 deaths UK ranked 23rd - 8.2 deaths US ranked 39th - 16.7 deaths India ranked 157th – 253.8 deaths
cillowen | Nov 19, 2012, 10:21 AM EST
what will this brave man say about the ducks in a barrel attack on gaza - I'm listening ? how long has it been since your last mouthings on something worthy of yer exhalted standing - you and pope are snivelling conmen supreme.
Portia777 | Nov 19, 2012, 10:08 AM EST
"Catholic teaching in medical ethics is to save lives and the practice in the country shows that in so many conflictual situations the end product is saving lives." What has Roman Catholic church to do with medicine?They are not medical doctors, are they? No. let them get on with talking and listening to the invisible man in the sky. Others who hear voices like that get carted off by the white coat men, but not these boys in frocks
Murph46 | Nov 19, 2012, 10:04 AM EST
Blah,Blah,Blah,Blah,Blah.
Portia777 | Nov 19, 2012, 10:01 AM EST
Religion is not what you think… it's the code of enslavement, not enlightenment.
esatdigiwank | Nov 19, 2012, 07:36 AM EST
More double-speak from Rome. Why is this creep Chairman of Ireland's largest pediatric children's hospital, Crumlin? Rather, why should he be? >>>>>"The facts show us we have in fact one of the lowest levels of maternal mortality in the world". But of course; crisis maternity cases are dealt with in the UK. Savita H's husband did not know this however..