The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference have rejected the findings of an Irish government report on abortion and stated that abortion is "gravely immoral.”
"This can never be morally justified. The judgement of the European Court of Human Rights does not oblige the Irish Government to legislate for abortion," the Bishops' Conference said.
The report into the European Court of Human Rights ruling on the so-called A, B and C versus Ireland cases, states that legislation to regulate access to lawful termination of pregnancy in Ireland is "constitutionally, legally and procedurally sound."
The report has been released amid the continuing controversy over Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar's death, after she was denied an abortion despite the apparent risk to her life.
According to Christian Today, of the four options presented by the report, three involve abortion.
Although the Bishops' Conference is taking a hard line stance, they claim the Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother.
"Where a seriously ill pregnant woman needs medical treatment which may put the life of her baby at risk, such treatments are morally permissible provided every effort has been made to save the life of both the mother and her baby," the Bishops said in a statement.
Criticising the expert group's report, the Bishops said: "A matter of this importance deserves sufficient time for a calm, rational and informed debate to take place before any decision about the options offered by the Expert Group Report are taken."
"All involved, especially public representatives, must consider the profound moral questions that arise in responding to this Report. Abortion is gravely immoral in all circumstances, no matter how 'limited' access to abortion may be."
The Irish government is under growing pressure at home and in Europe to legislate for abortion after the death of Halappanavar on October 28.
Ireland's constitution officially bans abortion, however a 1992 Supreme Court ruling called for legalizing the procedure when the woman's life is at risk.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.phinsman | Dec 10, 2012, 04:01 PM EST
These men have no understanding of what it is like to become pregnant when a woman is not ready to be a parent or has been raped. It is not up to these people to make the decision.
Smyrnian | Dec 10, 2012, 02:27 PM EST
Killing little children before they are born cannot be condoned by even the most twisted logic.
esatdigiwank | Dec 10, 2012, 04:17 AM EST
This is not an issue that is 'Black & White'; these clerical c**ts ought to butt out of medical matters that they have no training for or understanding of, and stick to what they do best (in their own medieval, make-believe world, keeping ordinary people ignorant and judgemental). Please quit interfering in medical and legal opinion & kindly pay up your property, water taxes on yr palaces like all us believers and un-believers must!
seanomelb | Dec 09, 2012, 08:19 PM EST
Your correct on the slur comments made below Gearoid.It is possible to protest without the bigotry.
Gearoid4 | Dec 09, 2012, 12:17 PM EST
The same begrudging and stupid anti-Church comments seem to be prevalent as always as demonstrated in the previous commentaries. The Church has set out the truth as She has been commanded by Christ to do in relation to the gravely sinful nature of abortion which should not be required in Ireland, as no medical team are restricted by law in terms of their decision making to save a pregnant woman's life or indeed the child in the womb.
gobdawpaddy | Dec 09, 2012, 08:43 AM EST
I wish they were half as vocal about buggering little boys.
anglo-norman | Dec 08, 2012, 06:17 PM EST
Portia777-RESPECT
seanomelb | Dec 08, 2012, 05:04 PM EST
The bishops can object that's their right but they do not represent the people of Ireland and they should acknowledge that they no not make laws other the canon law.Only one person has the right to make a choice the mother who must wrestle with her conscience and its her decision (and hers only). The doctors,priests and the so called ethicists should wrack off.
misneac | Dec 08, 2012, 12:41 PM EST
Portia 777 is some bigot ,and stupid as well ! Any significance in the numbers 777 ? Every normal individual knows that the Bishops do not condone any type of immoral or illegal behaviour ,but of course it does not suit the agenda to admit same .Also the safety of the Mother has always had prioity in Catholic teaching .What is not acceptable is "recreational abortion " !
eiriamach | Dec 08, 2012, 12:19 PM EST
Direct from the oracular mouth of God to the auricular of the pope and thence to his bishops. And we women are to believe that God appointed this exclusively male crew of moral experts to enforce a "moral rule" that we can find for ourselves NOWHERE in scripture, that identifies a "grave" sin that only WOMEN can commit, and for which all women are wholly dependent upon church MEN for its proclamation and its enforcement, without the same men ever muttering even one word of apology for the egregious, phallocentric arrogance of men calling for the deaths of women in crisis miscarriages? Wow, that's a lot for Catholic women, even the most devout, to swallow down while awaiting, this advent season, the birth of Christ.
Portia777 | Dec 08, 2012, 10:22 AM EST
But raping innocent children is 100% moral under their law- canon law.It is past time now to get the men in frocks out of Government business and our business.None of these boys will ever become pregnant, miscarry or give birth or raise children....no they chose the role of having no responsibility so now let them get on with their own lives and keep their moral judgments to themselves. Or to quote their own words " Judge not lest you be judged"
stanchaz | Dec 08, 2012, 08:33 AM EST
If Christ came back, would He even RECOGNIZE what kind of business they have made of His loving words, and His inspiring teachings? .....what kind of twisted house of hate and fear they have constructed in His name? I suspect that He would treat them in the very same way that he threw the money-lenders out of the Temple!
stanchaz | Dec 08, 2012, 08:31 AM EST
If Christ came back, would He even RECOGNIZE what kind of business they have made of His loving words, and His inspiring teachings? .....what kind of twisted house of hate and fear they have constructed in His name? I suspect that He would treat them the very same way he threw the money-lendes out of the Temple!