Irish politician accuses Cardinal Brady of misrepresenting abortion legislation issue
Labour representative says Catholic leader ‘misrepresented’ the legality of the issue
Published Thursday, December 27, 2012, 6:26 AM
Updated Thursday, December 27, 2012, 9:56 AM
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Cardinal Sean Brady
Photo by Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
A Labour TD (Member of Parliament) has slammed Cardinal Sean Brady's Christmas message, saying it ‘misrepresented’ the legal position within which the Oireachtas is required to legislate for abortion.
Speaking on Wednesday, Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara expressed his “disappointment that Cardinal Brady took the opportunity of his Christmas message to again misrepresent the legal position within which the Oireachtas is required to legislate, as well as the proposed content of that legislation”
Mc Namara accused the Catholic leader of ignoring “the Constitutional position and resultant proposed legislation.”
During his annual Christmas message, the Catholic primate asked people to protest against plans to legislate abortion.
He said: “I hope that everyone who believes that the right to life is fundamental will make their voice heard in a reasonable, but forthright, way to their representatives.”
In response Deputy McNamara said: “That Constitutional position was set out clearly by Mr Justice McCarthy in the Supreme Court in the X case, as follows: ‘The right of the girl here is a right to a life in being; the right of the unborn is to a life contingent; contingent on survival in the womb until successful delivery. It is not a question of setting one above the other but rather of vindicating, as far as practicable, the right to life of the girl/mother (Article 40, s.3, sub-s. 2), whilst with due regard to the equal light to life of the girl/mother, vindicating, as far as practicable, the right to life of the unborn. (Article 40, s.3, sub-section 3′).”
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eiriamach | Dec 28, 2012, 07:18 PM EST
Brady is hyping the issue and stirring up fanaticism. Dáil Éireann won't repeal or over-ride the Constitution's protection for the embryo/fetus. Its task is to clarify 40.3.3's protection for pregnant women in medical crisis. The embryo or fetus will still have a right to life "equal" to that of the woman. Ministers are TRYING to create guidelines to allow doctors to save the life of a woman in medical crisis when there is no hope of saving the fetus. ANYONE WHO WOULD OPPOSE SUCH A MEASURE WANTS PREGNANT WOMEN TO DIE UNNECESSARILY! What kind of sick sadist would oppose such legislation? What kind of sick sadistic misogynist is Brady-- or anyone else who would support him? Don't give me that cr*p about opening the door to abortion on demand. Until section 40.3.3 is repealed or set aside, abortion will be illegal in Ireland except in the most extreme medical emergencies, and women will still need to travel for legitimate medical care, for example, to abort a fetus that has no chance of survival after birth. That's more than enough barbarism for Irish women to tolerate.
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bobby | Dec 28, 2012, 05:54 PM EST
@the ass misneac, have you been to a church in Ireland recently? they are empty, a few elderly people and some young polish nationals. Members you say??? Im not going to waste anymore time with an idiot like you that hasn't got a clue. You talk alot of crap. Something you people are very good at.
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misneac | Dec 28, 2012, 01:10 PM EST
Bobby you are the stupid
individual ! Anyone of
intelligence knows that any
Church is made up of its members ,and the same applies to the Catholic Church in Ireland which will still exist for many generations .You are obviously prepared to overlook abuse in Northern Ireland ,and abuse by members of other churches in the Republic of Ireland . By the way I believe that leprechauns exist at the bottom of the garden ,and the dose of intelligence given me has made me very aware of the bigoted agendas elsewhere in the garden !!
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EamonnDublin | Dec 28, 2012, 08:40 AM EST
To read a lot of the comments on these pages, one might be forgiven for thinking that the Catholic Church is a totally evil institution and that every single Catholic priest is a child abuser. I cannot reconcile the comments with the lack of similar comment about, for instance, the BBC Corporation, also non-Catholic churches where there have been many instances of child abuse. You find evil individuals in every single walk of life - why is the Catholic church picked out for special vile venom from some of the "Irish Central" readers, and indeed, some of the IC editorial staff? Oh, and please don't spit at me whilst you are answering. Éamonn, Dublin.
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tombegs | Dec 28, 2012, 01:34 AM EST
His EMINENCE apparently believes that life begins at conception and ends at birth.
How else does one explain his attitude towards and defense of ordained (I chose that word carefully) abusers of little children?
Sounds terribly like the idiot from Kansas City who said that the slaughter of the innocents i Sandy Hook, CT PALES (!!!!) in comparison to the real slaughter of the innocents caused by abortion.
Do any of these clowns understand that there is a difference between a zigot and a real human being? Obviously not. ERGO none of these self-described celibates are human.
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bobby | Dec 27, 2012, 08:20 PM EST
@misneac what a stupid comment, the church is Irish people? what are you on? what a load of crap from you. I bet you think everyone has leprechauns at the end of the garden. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
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misneac | Dec 27, 2012, 07:38 PM EST
Madpadd is very well named !
Guys like him dont realise that
the Church is Irish people ,and not
not just ordained clergymen !He might be interested to learn that there has been a call for a Police investigation in to the number of abortions in Northern Ireland !
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Smyrnian | Dec 27, 2012, 06:05 PM EST
Probably wrong to kill little children in the womb.
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Happyhippo | Dec 27, 2012, 03:45 PM EST
The latest population random sample red c poll taken 3 weeks ago states the Supreme Court judgement on the x case would pass with over 80% supporting the new legislation,with the younger population the main driving force.
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Michael Reddish | Dec 27, 2012, 02:12 PM EST
Gearoid4, you speak with great wisdom. I encourage you to continue being a strong voice of reason. I encourage you also because many who are alienated from themselves will try to silence you. Do not let it happen.
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Gearoid4 | Dec 27, 2012, 12:02 PM EST
Once legislation for "limited" abortion hits the statute books, the door is pushed ajar and soon the criteria is stretched like an elastic to the point where we will have abortion-on-demand. This is the terrible reality that transpired in the US and UK. It is a nonsense to say that we will only have "limited" abortion, as it resembles someone saying that they are only a little bit pregnant. All right tbinking people must consider this type of scenario and stop it from happening in Ireland(north or south).
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madpadd | Dec 27, 2012, 11:58 AM EST
I was under the impression that the Irish Government gave up listening to the Church. When will the Irish people go it alone.
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noeldoyle | Dec 27, 2012, 11:21 AM EST
Cardinal Brady as the leader of the largest religious following in Ireland is entitled to voice his opinion and give guidance to his followers.
While. I would never condone child abuse by the clergy, we should remember that the abusers were in a minority. There are some very fine Priests who should not be tarred by the same brush
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jacersagain | Dec 27, 2012, 11:11 AM EST
(…more) From the Bible, the Apostles and early church leaders - “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth… YOU SHALL NOT KILL THE EMBRYO BY ABORTION AND SHALL NOT CAUSE THE NEWBORN TO PERISH…. God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to (mankind) the noble mission of safeguarding life, and (it) must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves… LIFE MUST BE PROTECTED WITH THE UTMOST CARE FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION: ABORTION AND INFANTICIDE ARE ABOMINABLE CRIMES.” - Of course the Cardinal is within his rights as Leader of the RCC in Ireland to speak out and advise on what is right on abortion law. Whether one accepts the advice or not, is one’s free will and should not be subject to the party whip, something the near-Godless Labour Party should be aware of.
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