TD Who Voted for Abortion Refused Communion

31.01.2019

A Fianna Fáil TD who voted for the government’s abortion bill last year has reportedly been refused communion by a priest in County Westmeath. In addition to voting to pass the bill, Deputy Robert Troy (Longford Westmeath) voted with the government against most of the pro-life amendments that were proposed (but not against any of the pro-abortion amendments). The only pro-life amendment he supported was one to strengthen conscience protections for medical professionals.

According to The Sunday Times, Fr John Hogan, parish priest of Multyfarnham, withheld communion from Troy on January 4 at a funeral Mass at St Nicholas’s Church in the parish. Fr Hogan, who is a regular presenter on EWTN television, referred on Twitter last month to an unnamed TD who voted against amendments to the abortion bill, "who, only a few years ago, stood in my house & swore he was pro-life."

In addition to voting for the abortion legislation, Troy, who many people had previously believed to be pro-life, revealed last month in an interview with Hot Press magazine that he also voted yes in the referendum to repeal the eighth amendment in May.

The Sunday Times. January 27. Oireachtas Éireann.