Shock as Bishops march in protest against efforts to liberalize abortion law - VIDEO

why indicate "Shock" in the headline ? should bishops not avail themselves the right to protest as citizens? is it unexpected that Church representatives would voice and protest the view of the Faith ? is it not intended to be an informative, reporting news article; so, why the editorializing headline? the Irish Voice has become nothing but hype and "Shlock".

1. It is impossible to have law or government without morals. Try and explain ANY law without resort to morality. Positivism is a fallacy. 2. Changing the abortion laws because of this one alleged incident is arguing the exception. e.g. A person may be justified to kill someone in self-defense, yet no one would argue that there should be no law against killing. 3. There is no supportable explanation for why abortion is not murder. It is the taking of a human life. One day before delivery, was it not also a human life? And one day before that? Moving the definition of "human life" to the point of viability is arbitrary, dependent upon the latest science. If the law were to be at least consistent, a human life would be defined the same way coming into this world as going out. But the only non-arbitrary method of defining human life is beginning at conception.

Minister Pat Rabbitte points out a danger when he speaks of “the cardinal’s ... lobbying and ... canvassing public representatives." Can you imagine Queen Liz II, as titular head of the Church of England, leading a protest against elected MPs legislating on a public issue? Petitions for dis-establishing the C of E would follow very quickly, it seems to me, if **in the name of her Church** she were to try to influence Parliament. The Irish cannot dis-establish a Church which is not constitutionally established. None the less, Ireland seems to need separation of Church and State more urgently than their neighbours across the Irish Sea need it. Dáil Éireann should welcome ethical reasoning from all sides, but lobbying "as a church" (Card. Brady's words) and opposing legislation as "not ... acceptable in Catholic teaching" (Bsp. Leo O'Reilly) show that the Church is flexing its political muscle, not its moral reasoning. Is that because they know they have the losing argument in this debate?

While I know this is an emotional issue, I failed both literally and figuratively to understand the yelling of the person speaking or shouting into the microphone. Can s/he not breath in and out and talk into the mic. without bellowing? The very emotionalism of the issue demands speaking one's truth as clearly, calmly, and understandably as possible, and this person met none of those criteria.

Wolftone "It unfortunately was a natural death for both. Only the death of the 17 week foetus was natural. The mother creator died at the hands of doctors whose oath is to do no harm. Savita was left to die in agony. She may have given her life as you put it for her brother, but you are speaking like a true member of the death cult. Glad you made yourself known.Ireland has no soul. That went long long ago with the creator Goddess Eriu at Uisneach

The sign says it best. "Love them both." The so called liberalization of abortion laws in Ireland is the wrong response to this tragedy. It's a slippery slope that we've experienced here America that now allows for the slaughter of more than 3,000 innocent lives daily in America. There is nothing right or morally just for a society or a government that institutionalizes as a matter of policy, the taking of innocent lives, born or unborn. There is no greater love but to give one's life for their brother. In this tragic incident Savita Halappanavar gave her life with and for her child. It unfortunately was a natural death for both. And this was a tragic exception to the circumstances of pregnancy where both lives were threatened. Ireland should not change its virtuous existing policies and allow itself to sink into a culture of death. I and everyone reading this will eventually meet our end. No policy can stop that and no government can save us. Pray for the souls of Savita and her child. Pray for the comfort and peace and healing of her family. Pray for the soul and dignity of Ireland!

Does anyone know a pregnant bishop with experience on pregnancy and miscarrying and birth? No. They are not protesting the rape and torture and starvation of the living children. Why? too much soul food for the vultures.

MichaelMcGrath, I don't care a fig newton about the European Court, but I certainly care about the lives of women in crisis pregnancies. Women like Savita will continue to die as long as current Irish law gives "equal right to life" to a foetus doomed by miscarriage and a woman in need of abortion to save her life. For that reason-- saving lives that can be saved-- not to kowtow to the European Court, the Irish government must repeal article 40.3.3 of the Constitution as quickly as possible.

Binasdad and Michael Collins are real clowns ! Not a single intelligent comment between the two of them . The IC headline is rubbish ,there is no "shock " in the Bishops supporting the wishes of the Irish people .What do you mean "state " , the Irish people are the state ,and Catholics have a right to comment on social issues as well as so called liberals !

Here in the US we have become numbover this issue. As knugent15 says the bishops were doing their job and I suspect this was organized by the people and not the bishops. Years ago there was a movie, I think it was called the "Cardinal" where this happened to his sister in any case the child lived and the mother died. I wish American bishops would march out with their people in pro-life issues.

The government seeks to give the imoression that the European Court ruling in this case must be answered. It does not, it means nothing, so much so that Abbot and Costello might as well have made that ruling.It's just that this Irish government loves to play the white haired boys of Europe, top of the class, like the clowns they are.This is a big reason we are in economic crisis as well.

What I think is “shocking” is that the doctors that allowed Savita Halappanavar to die KNOWING her baby wasn’t going to live are not being charged with murder! They themselves said the baby was miscarrying yet they did nothing to save Savita. What’s further “shocking” is that the Bishops are condoning the actions of the hospital by protesting any new legislation that would prevent such a “miscarriage” of treatment of a mother in the future.

Not "shocking" at all. What would have been shocking would be seeing the bishops protest child rape.

Shock? Really? What's shocking about the bishops doing their jobs? Think the author's trying a bit too hard to be dramatic.

I always think of Joyce's character of Mr Daedalus: We are a priest-ridden race! They take their church too seriously there whether Catholic or Protestant. I am a recovering Catholic who is now Anglican (Episcopalian here in USA). Finally there are some Irish trying to enter the modern world!