Politicians Who Voted for Abortion Clearly Out of Communion with Church - Bishop

15.01.2019

Politicians who had the courage, even at personal and political risk, to defend the right to life were praised by the Bishop of Elphin on New Year’s Day. But Bishop Kevin Doran criticised members of the government and opposition parties who supported the campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment while describing themselves as practising Catholics.

In his homily for World Day of Peace and the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo, he said there was “a genuine sadness that Catholics have been among those who publicly and persistently promoted the taking of innocent human life, whether for political or ideological reasons, or for their own personal advancement”.

He stressed that they had chosen a position that was “clearly out of communion” with the Church and added that “There is no point in pretending otherwise.”

On the first day that abortions were legally available across Ireland, Bishop Doran said his message to public representatives was “pastoral and spiritual”. “Trusting in the mercy of God which knows no limits, I invite you to turn back to the Gospel of Life where you will find true peace,” he challenged.

“It is tragic that today, when paradoxically we celebrate the Motherhood of Mary, the fruit of political action which is being celebrated by our government and parliament, is that today we have the beginning of what they describe as ‘services for the termination of pregnancy’,” Dr Doran told his congregation in Sligo.

He said a great deal of political energy had gone into achieving “this fundamentally destructive target; energy that could otherwise have been used to do other things that would give life and hope to our society”. He also warned that the denial of the fundamental right to life would undermine the common good of Irish society. “It will undermine the inner peace of mothers, fathers, grandparents, doctors and nurses and all who are directly touched by it.”

On the nature of the role of public representatives, Bishop Doran said those who have responsibility for the common good and for the formation of public policy carry a particular burden of responsibility for the consequences that their decisions have, not only for themselves, but for society as a whole.

He also highlighted the sense of helplessness that many feel with so many people stuck in refugee camps and direct provision centres; when families are without a home of their own; and when so many sick people are waiting on trolleys for essential medical care.

“It is hard, if not impossible, to create peace when human rights are denied,” he warned.

Catholic Ireland. January 2.