The Pope has slammed proposals to change Ireland’s anti-abortion laws and expressed his ‘dismay’ at the moves.
Pope Benedict appeared to refer to Ireland in an address at the Vatican when he expressed his horror at the proposed introduction of abortion legislation ‘in various countries, even those of Christian tradition.’
The Irish Times reports that the leader of the Catholic Church made the remarks during his annual keynote address to the Vatican’s diplomatic corps.
Speaking about abortion, he said: “I must note with dismay that, in various countries, even those of Christian tradition, efforts are being made to introduce or expand legislation which decriminalises abortion.
Read More: Historic move as Irish government drafts abortion legislation for 2013 vote
“Direct abortion, that is to say willed as an end or as a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.
“In affirming this, the Catholic Church is not lacking in understanding and mercy, also towards the mother involved.”
Vatican sources have told the Irish Times that any apparent reference to the current debate in Ireland was ‘intentional.’
During the speech the Pope also referred to various world issues including the Syrian conflict and the ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine.
He urged both parties to commit themselves to a peaceful co-existence.
Read More: Irish bishops reacts to abortion report - say it is “gravely immoral”
The pontiff also expressed concern about a ruling last month by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in favour of the right to access in vitro fertilisation in Costa Rica.
Pope Benedict called on authorities globally to work for peace.
He added: “I am particularly concerned for that privileged region in God’s plan namely the Middle East.
“I think first and foremost of Syria, torn apart by endless slaughter and the scene of dreadful suffering among its civilian population.
“I renew my appeal for a ceasefire and the inauguration as quickly as possible of a constructive dialogue aimed at putting an end to a conflict which will know no victors but only vanquished if it continues.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.misneac | Jan 10, 2013, 07:16 PM EST
barneyjo -to explain .The first part of my comment dealt with the incorrect title to the story . . .The Indian reference was to the hysterical reporting and comment by the that countrys media on the death of the Indian lady Savita ,incidentally from causes not yet made pulic by the medical enquiry team .Rather ironic considering the attitude of India as a nation ,exemplified by the recent horrific rape case .In all the anti Catholic rants I read on IC there seems to be a denial of the right for any Catholic spokesperson to express a point of view !!!
barneyjo | Jan 10, 2013, 06:05 PM EST
@misneac - dont follow the rationale in your post, sorry!!
misneac | Jan 10, 2013, 02:21 PM EST
The headline to this report is totally sensationalist and inaccurate ! The Pope did not "slam " Ireland ,or even mention Ireland in his speech .So why the lies ? Incidentally , I have not noticed any reportage of indignation from Indian media recently on womens rights !!!
barneyjo | Jan 10, 2013, 06:37 AM EST
@howareya - Like yourself, I cannot be present every time someone seeks to murder a 2yr old child, either to say "dont do it" or to prevent them from doing so!! So in that case the only thing standing between that child and harm, is the conscience of the person who is contemplating harming the child (assuming that person has a conscience in the first instance)So, no, the gift of free will is there for all, but so to is the responsibility of exercising it according to God's graces, as well as the consequences if we do not; both in this life, and the next!! @Gearoid4 - hardly indecent haste when you consider that it is 20 years since the "X" case impacted on the conscience of the Irish Nation. Abortion legislation predicated on a strictly catholic ethos will not be applicable to the populations of Hindus, Moslems, Siekhs, and other ethnic groups that have made their home in Ireland. The State, if it is to be a true Republic has to legislate for ALL its Citizens!!
aloistmartin | Jan 09, 2013, 10:28 PM EST
If Ireland is to remain Irish; The Pope must be above both, the Degenerating, Lily Liver`d, Globalizationist Weal, of her Bourgoise, and their subordinate Pseudo-Progressive, Liberal, Labor Party, underlings ! The only legitimate argument for any Green Eyed Republican would be on the question of Separation of Church and State; But how far, should The Irish Republic go towards expressing her Secular Prerogatives, before her Kultural and Moral Obligations ? ... The Forth Commandment: Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother ~ hO
Gearoid4 | Jan 09, 2013, 02:26 PM EST
I can see how your point is relevant in a general sense, Barneyjo, regarding the pros and cons of the arguments on both sides. But if you boiled the argument down to it's essentials, you will see how the pro-abortion position has gone beyond medical necessity and is heavily ideological in terms of the indecent haste with which it's promoters are pushing for pro-abort legislation. There will be times when direct surgical intervention is necessary to save a woman's life during pregnancies as during situations where complications arise due to cancer of the cervix or preeclampsia(gestational hypertension). But doctors/surgeons are already empowered in Ireland to do all they can(as in the above) cases to take all necessary medically-required action to save a woman's life(and that of fetus/embryo). A pro-abortion law will not make any worthwhile additions to those pre-existing powers and it will surely open the floodgates to abortion on demand.
howareya | Jan 09, 2013, 10:58 AM EST
barneyjo..."I believe that the taking of any life is wrong. I believe that any attempt of mine to impose that belief on others is equally so." So you would stand by and watch a person murder their 2 year old child and do nothing because you don't want to impose your beliefs on others? In my opinion, that is the same thing. I am a woman and I was pregnant, unmarried and it was quite awhile ago...so I know what I am talking about. I am not some man imposing my opinions. I always find it amusing..maybe that's not the right term...that when a woman wants a child...it is a child from the time she finds out. But if it is inconvenient, it is only a blob and can be gotten rid of. My daughter was born at 1.6 oz. and I know of people that have had abortions at that point. You could not tell me she was not a human being. She was tiny and helpless and needed help to survive but she was a person! And I do believe that it is okay with the church to save a woman's life if it is needed to abort the baby. The whole recent debaucle is because the hospital did not handle it correctly.
Smyrnian | Jan 09, 2013, 09:50 AM EST
f-ergo - that's a really nice thought. One can only imagine!
f-ergo | Jan 09, 2013, 09:20 AM EST
The Vatican really needs a reality check. I can really see Jews and Muslims - Israelis and Palestinians ready to sign up to longlasting peace because Benedick said so.
Smyrnian | Jan 09, 2013, 09:07 AM EST
Something must be wrong as there has been no new anti-Catholic articles from Irish Central in a few days. Surely their search engines must be working overtime to dig up something; anything! The anti-Catholic posters on this website must be salivating in anticipation! Something must surely pop up any minute now....
darragh S | Jan 09, 2013, 08:42 AM EST
While I am at it when is the next witch burning on, I am a bit frustrated with all the evil bull.
darragh S | Jan 09, 2013, 08:41 AM EST
Not having abortions is like relying on nuclear power. Sooner or later you will run out of Uranium and be stuck with the Uranium waste and waste water and nothing but solar and wind power to keep it cool. Good luck with that kids of the future.
barneyjo | Jan 09, 2013, 07:09 AM EST
@Gearoid4 - Ah but who seeks to define any law as good or bad? The proponents of the law, and the opponents of the law respectively surely!! The default position of an opponent to legislation on abortion or any other issue has to be that it is "bad" I would argue that the same is not the case for proponents. Invariably, proponents can and will argue the case for this issue as something which is good; but there is a second argument which says that something may not be good (such as abortion - in this case) but it may still be necessary!! And I believe this to be the case as far as the legislation for abortion is concerned. As a (still) practicing Catholic, I treasure the gift of free will which allows me to seek to develop a closer relationship with God, where I am called upon to follow the teachings given to us (with uncertain footsteps I'll grant you) It is my wish and choice to bear witness to Gods presence in the world in the hope that others can and will come to know that same God through me!! I believe that the taking of any life is wrong. I believe that any attempt of mine to impose that belief on others is equally so. We, each of us can only exercise that freedom of choice according to our own conscience, but with the added responsibility that we are prepared to accept any resulting consequences!!
IrelandNorth | Jan 09, 2013, 03:13 AM EST
He's entitled to his opinion. He is, after all, the leader of the worlds largest orthodox Christian franchise, even if it is a democratically unaccountable autocracy. Just as the Queen of England, as popess of the Lutheran Anglican Communion can have her speak likewise. Live and let live.
Proud Canadian2 | Jan 09, 2013, 12:02 AM EST
Irish Central I guess didn't like my first comment so I'll just say Pope mind your own business. See if that goes through. Just saying.
falconflash | Jan 08, 2013, 10:30 PM EST
Butch1 even if the Pope handled the sex scandals wrongly, there is no excuse for the murder of children via abortion. The Irish need a modern day army of Catholics who will PHYSICALLY CLOSE DOWN the abortion clinics.....
Eschetic | Jan 08, 2013, 10:02 PM EST
There is an old, arguably anti-Catholic joke, first told regarding the then Pope's irrational opposition to practical forms of birth control: "You no play-a 'da game, you no make-a 'da rules" It was less than kind then and may be just as unkind today, but perhaps not irrelevant. At the same time, one has to sympathize with this Pope: IF he honestly believes in the fiction that an abortion ends the life of an actual child (and not merely a *potential* child) - and I give him the credit to assume his stated belief in that is genuine - then he HAS to speak out against the practice. At the same time, while I may sympathize with the Pontiff, I have far greater sympathy for the UN-superstitious faithful in Ireland and trust that they will follow the lead of their brethren in the United States who overwhelmingly support a woman's RIGHT to legally control her own body including the right to obtain an safe, legal abortion in cases where she feels that is the proper option for her.
Eschetic | Jan 08, 2013, 09:53 PM EST
There is an old, and arguably anti-Catholic joke first told regarding the then Pope's irrational opposition to practical birth control methods: "You no play-a 'da game, you no make-a 'da rules!" Tempting then, possibly less so now: if one genuinely believes that abortion results in the death of a child (a fiction which I'm willing to believe this Pope may actually subscribe to), then you HAVE to speak out against it, even at the usually unconscionable risk of imposing your personal beliefs on others who do not share them. While sympathizing with the Pope however, my far greater sympathy is with the un-superstitious faithful in Ireland who, one hopes, will follow the lead of their brethren in the United States and overwhelmingly support the legalization of a woman's right to make the reasonable decisions about her own body which may include the option of securing an abortion if her circumstances make it desirable.
jimod4343 | Jan 08, 2013, 08:54 PM EST
@handsome68, I don't get the point you're trying to make - was it a meaningful one, or am I just lacking a sense of humour?
anglo-norman | Jan 08, 2013, 07:56 PM EST
GROW UP IRELAND
Gearoid4 | Jan 08, 2013, 07:33 PM EST
@Barneyjo, While acknowledging the horrific nature of the sex-abuse scandals and their consequent cover-ups across the globe, one cannot objectively use the secular argument that a government legislates for everyone, in order to tolerate or let bad laws go by default. Saint Thomas Moore, the exemplar of someone who would never violate his conscience would have told you as much, while giving his dues to God and to Caesar.
Gearoid4 | Jan 08, 2013, 07:27 PM EST
@Barneyjo, While acknowledging the horrific nature of the sex-abuse scandals and their consequent cover-ups across the globe, one cannot objectively use the secular argument that a government legislates for everyone, in order to tolerate or let bad laws go by default. Saint Thomas Moore, the exemplar of someone who
Butch1 | Jan 08, 2013, 06:48 PM EST
Why would any person still listen to this person who would protect cardinals, mainly this one from Boston, Mass. USA ( American Cardinal Law ) who skipped town to avoid the questioning of his protecting priests who were raping little boys under his command to hide in the Vatican for the remainder of his days? This Pope has a lot of nerve pointing a finger at anyone when there are three fingers pointing back at himself. He needs to clean out his own house before telling others how dirty theirs is.
barneyjo | Jan 08, 2013, 06:05 PM EST
@AlunPalmer - John Paul II may have been compassionate but as pontiff he still presided over a church riven with scandal and cover-up which touched him personally. He held Marciel Maciel Delgado up as an exemplar of priestly ministry; this man who was subsequently unmasked as a serial pedophile and embezzler. As a young man, I was moved by the words of John Paul ii when he visited Ireland, my country in 1979. I would have followed him into the gates of hell itself. But after that high point, came scandal after scandal in the Irish Catholic Church, right down to the present day. Pope Benedict has articulated his point of view as is his right. It will be Ireland as a Nation State, and not the Vatican that will legislate on this and other issues. There will be arguments made both for and against. However the framework for this change in law was laid down 20 years ago, and it took the unnecessary death of a non catholic, foreign national to shame the political classes into finally doing what they should be doing; and that is legislating for the Irish State and its peoples. Those who are pro and anti abortion can still hold their views. The State of course cannot legislate for and on behalf of a select segment of the population; it must legislate for ALL, dispassionately. It then becomes a matter of personal choice and conscience for anyone who wishes to avail of this or indeed any other right or privilege introduced by the State on behalf of ALL its citizens.
misneac | Jan 08, 2013, 05:55 PM EST
Kate Middleton should have an abortion ,after all she has been suffering from acute morning sickness and legislation provides for that in England !!
handsome68 | Jan 08, 2013, 05:46 PM EST
WHAT?! The Pope opposes abortion. Next IC will be telling us he's Catholic.
Smyrnian | Jan 08, 2013, 05:12 PM EST
Piper - well said. Of course the unborn children have no rights; that would be down right inconvenient wouldn't it? Also, the abortionists NEVER use the word children, heaven forbid then they would be killing kids, which of course they are. Must use terms like "unborn", "fetus, "zygote" etc. since those terms comfortably label the child as something other than a human being. Interesting that a partially born child being killed before being fully born is not referred to as a child because his/ her body is not TOTALLY out of the birth canal. Aren't words so clever?
seanomelb | Jan 08, 2013, 05:09 PM EST
The pope and his right wing followers have lost the respect of most catholics in Ireland and elsewhere.
AlunPalmer | Jan 08, 2013, 04:50 PM EST
I wish John Paul II were still alive. He was a man of compassion. Instead we have to put up with "God's Rottweiler".
PiperMac52 | Jan 08, 2013, 04:34 PM EST
Well golly be, just what did you expect the Pope to do, endorse the murder of innocent unborn children??? The bogus argument about "women's rights" makes no mention of the basic right to life a that child she is carrying because she refused to take proper precautions. It is the Pope's duty as Christ's representative to speak out about debased behaviors that have become accepted by a modernist culture that celebrates decadence and moral relativism.
Will Hamilton | Jan 08, 2013, 03:55 PM EST
A power intoxicated celibate pensioner preaches to a captive audience in Italy and in Ireland nobody pays a blind bit of difference except his agents and followers. What would a sex adverse old German know about women anyway.
Mortimer74 | Jan 08, 2013, 03:36 PM EST
Katieherk, correct. The figures in the US are there for all to see as well. themediareport.com and Dave Pierre are excellent resources for those seeking the facts about the Truth Abuse Scandal.
Gearoid4 | Jan 08, 2013, 02:02 PM EST
The pope in his capacity as the spiritual head of the World's just over 1 billion Catholics, whose words are listened to by people of all beliefs and none, has an unavoidable duty to spell out with clarity what awaits Ireland in the legalization of this terrible abomination called abortion. It not please the liberal or secular left, but truth has a way of gnawing at your innards no matter how many barriers you put between yourself and it.
katieherk | Jan 08, 2013, 01:38 PM EST
It is the Pope's duty to talk about and/or direct morality. What a cop-out, pedophile priests, lost its moral authority... all hog-wash. 1st the statistics of pedophilia among priests as opposed to Protestant ministers is not even on the charts (found out the stats in Ireland), less then .03% as opposed to ministers at 9.3%. 2nd - Abortion is murder and it's his duty to "teach" against this. He is taking care of his "own house"!! And, you do preach that murder is wrong to all faiths.
Tenbroeck | Jan 08, 2013, 01:34 PM EST
I think the Pope should read the news more. I believe he is hidden away in his Vatican castle and needs to know more about WHY there is a nedd for abortions especially in the health of the mother. All Abortions don't make sense but he needs to understand the specifics.
alisaann | Jan 08, 2013, 01:29 PM EST
HEY OLD MAN, STOP TRYING TO CONTROLL WOMEN....NO WOMAN, SHOULD BE FORCED, TO CARRY A BABY IF THEY DON'T WANT TO...AND IF A WOMAN'S LIFE CAN BE SAVED BY ABORTION AN PREGNANCY, THEN THAT;S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN. ALISA
The Commentator | Jan 08, 2013, 01:15 PM EST
The Pope needs to take care of his own house. Perhaps when he gets rid of the criminal money changers at the Vatican, the pedophile priests, all those involved in the abuse, and those who were aware of the rapes and did little or nothing to stop it, then he can preach to his flock and convince them to follow the church doctrine, but the churches should never dictate their beliefs on non Catholics.
Nicomax | Jan 08, 2013, 01:12 PM EST
Old German man preaching to young Irish women is not likely to take hold. The church continues to miss it's opportunities to stem the decline in western countries. It will soon be limited to the teeming cities in South American and the rural expanses of Africa.
PhlutiePhan | Jan 08, 2013, 11:40 AM EST
@Leitrim666: What's with the "666"? Two wrongs don'take a right. It is the moral obligation of the Pope to speak out for His Church. Now, look with your "666" at what is happening in the U.S. Moral belief has gone from the toilet to the sewer and unfortunately, as you state, the Church is morally complicit and cowed by the incumbent. Of such lack of backbone was the stirrings of the Nazis allowed to grow and flourish.
murphy666 | Jan 08, 2013, 11:25 AM EST
Make that "wish."
murphy666 | Jan 08, 2013, 11:22 AM EST
It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wesh. Mother Teresa
bunkerisland | Jan 08, 2013, 10:03 AM EST
An institution that long ago lost its "moral authority"!
Leitrim666 | Jan 08, 2013, 08:33 AM EST
The Pope was aware of the cover-up by the church hierarchy of child abuse by priests and did nothing. He has no authority to make any comment on moral or legal issues.