Abortion: The Done Deal

 

It seems the politicians are closing ranks as the attack on the abortion bill begins.  Government is insisting that this bill will not lead to abortion on demand, or as the Taoiseach said, there is no intention to introduce abortion on demand - note the subtlety there!  Pro-abortion TDs, Clare Daly foremost among them, are condemning the bill because it does not go far enough.  I'm sure that just posturing on their part, this bill opens the door - in a few years Planned Parenthood and Marie Stopes will be fully cranked up and working away to these politicians' delight.

 

I have been reading the legislation and it is appalling.  Included in it is an attack on Catholic hospitals.  While the bill recognises the right to conscientious objection for individuals (for now - I see that part being repealed if too many doctors and nurses opt out), it will not permit institutions to object so Catholic hospitals will be forced under this legislation to carry out abortions.  What this government is doing to our schools, it now seeks to do to our hospitals.  I cannot help but think this is part of Labour's plan to cut Christianity out of Irish life.   Given that bishops sit on the boards of our Catholic hospitals, we await a response.

 

Another deeply distressing development is that when a woman seeks an abortion, there need not be an immediate danger to her life.  I see that as meaning that she turns up, says she will kill herself if she can't have an abortion, and so the panel grants her request. 

 

And as expected, there will be no free vote.  All government TDs will have to go against their conscience and vote for the bill.  Speaking as a pastor of souls, the party whip does not serve as a mitigating circumstance when it comes to sin: the TD will bear full responsibility for his or her vote and will have to answer to God for it. 

 

This bill is not only offensive to life, but it is deeply flawed.  Having looked at it I conclude that no Catholic can support it and remain in good standing in the Church.  We priests will have to get advice on this, but I think that Catholic TDs who vote for this bill (and perhaps Catholic ministers who have already voted on it in cabinet) remove themselves from communion with the Church.   An important issue now is: does the Catholic Church in Ireland have the courage to speak the truth in the face of this legislation?

Rabbitte In The Headlights

Well, well, it seems there is life in the old dog yet.   Fianna Fail, the main opposition party in Ireland, and the one which was decimated in the last election, has taken exception to Labour Minister Pat Rabbitte's remarks on excluding the Church from the upcoming debate on abortion.  FF Health spokesman Billy Kelleher has accused Rabbitte of disrespect towards the Cardinal, trying to suppress discussion and "intimidate" the Church from being involved in the public arena.  All of which is true.

Some backbenchers in Fine Gael have also reacted and have stated that they will not support legislation which will introduce abortion.  Two have come out in defence of life: Tom Barry and John O'Mahoney.  Time to put a tick after their names.  Indeed it is time to have a list of all our TDs and to find out how they would vote - if they would vote against abortion, put a tick, as you would, say in the poll booth; and if they say they would vote for abortion or get all squirmy and vague, cross out their names and remember to ignore them at the next election. 

But let us hear from other backbenchers.  A good revolt in the ranks could sort this issue out.  Backbenchers sometimes forget that the future of a party leader is, ultimately, in their hands - it is their gift.  Party leaders like to strut around as if they were in charge, sometimes they need to be reminded that their position is a precarious one.

I see Labour chairman, Colm Keaveney, is as entrenched as his comrades.  He said that while the Catholic Church was entitled to be listened to, the Cardinal's comments were "in excess of the Church's current standing".   As per usual some believe the moral law is decided by popularity and numbers.  And let us not forget, abortion is not a Catholic issue - it is a human issue.  People of all faiths and none stand united in the defence of life because we all recognise that life is sacred and precious.

And that brings me back to another old chestnut of mine: when are the churches and religious communities of Ireland going to unite in protest?   May I suggest that His Eminence and their Lordships make contact with the Anglican bishops, moderators and leaders of other Christian communities, the Chief Rabbi, the Chief Imam and leaders of other religious traditions, to sit down and plan a strategy to oppose the introduction of abortion.  As I said before, we need to work with others and present a strong united front.  So far the secularists in Ireland have divided and conquered: they have used the Catholic Church's self delusion that we can act alone and use the influence we once had - the quiet word with the local TDs, to promote their agenda.  That way of lobbying may not work anymore - if the TD is sincere he/she may not have the character to go against the whip, or he/she may well be preening a bishop's feathers to get votes but will betray confidence when convenient. 

"New wine, new wineskins" - while not rejecting the "quiet word", a new world order in Ireland, may also require a new response and new tactics.  We are not looking for a fight, but a strong united front from all religious traditions on this island will make the government realise that they will not legalise the killing of our children without forceful opposition - an opposition that will not go away even if parliament should shuffle abortion in. 

Of course all of this is very ironic when you remember that the government and her secular friends are anxious to get a children's rights referendum passed!  There can be no rights without life. 

Time to pray and fast.  So now, people, bread and water on Fridays - for the little children.

Not As We Have Been Told, It Seems

Will the real Labour Party please stand up....

The plot thickens on the Irish government-Vatican embassy issue.  The last update we got told us that Fine Gael back benchers were in revolt, as were 100,000 citizens who registered their disapproval with the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs.  We were also told, by means of a statement from the party whip, that the Labour Party back benchers were full square behind the decision. 

However, all is not as it seems: apparently, the Labour back benchers are in revolt too, and the statement issued by the party whip came as a big surprise to them and is, we might say, not a reflection of reality, perhaps more of a socialist aspiration which, it appears, is failing to materialise.  Like the Fine Gael back benchers, not in splendid isolation like their leaders, Labour back benchers are feeling the heat from the citizens.

What is most interesting is that the Labour back benchers are getting an earful at their Church gate collections.  Yes, my friends, you heard correctly, a socialist political party with an anti-Catholic agenda turns up at Church gates to look for money from Catholics for their party coffers.  That's Ireland for you.   Personally I believe that no political party, regardless of ideology should be allowed to conduct Church gate collection, most especially when those parties, Fine Gael and Labour for example, are waging an open war with the Church.  They are keen to talk about the separation of Church and state, but when it comes to the Church gate collections, well then the boundaries are ever so blurred! 

But that's a separate issue.  What is going on in Labour?  The TDs are not happy with the impression that their leader and his minions are giving that the party is anti-Catholic (to be honest, it is more than an impression).   Indeed the phrase "McCarthyite" has been used by one Labour member to describe the language being used with regard to the Catholic Church - I wouldn't disagree: Labour was proposing to screen candidates for the civil service to see if they were Catholic, and so prevent their promotion up the ranks.  They are reversing on that one, it seems. 

What's going to happen?  Well, I suppose, socialists have the venerable tradition of staging coups and eliminating the leader - they could do that and elect a more mainstream leader who will be more open and listen to people, and who would replace the Labour ministers in the government.  If the back benchers want to reverse the view that the party is solidly anti-Catholic, then they will have to do something about Gilmore and co. 

Until serious action is taken, many of us will have no other choice but to take the front bench of the party as they are presenting themselves and as they act and as representing the views of the party as a whole: as people who want to eradicate Catholics from public life, and God knows what else.  The way things are going, it seems as if they'll be opening gulags on deserted islands around the coast and populating them with priests and Catholic civil servants.  Any chance that fear might be assuaged by a good old fashioned heave at the top?

Every Blessing On St Brigid's Day

Before I head out for another day's filming, I would like to wish you all a very happy St Brigid's Day.  May the holy Patroness of Ireland watch over us and our country in these difficult times.

We need her prayers and motherly protection.  My colleague, Caroline over at the St Genesius Blog has alerted me to the Labour Party's next move against Catholic citizens: they are, for all intents and purposes, to be banned from certain positions within the civil service if they cannot put their faith to one side and put the state first.  Here's what is being said:

"All senior officials in state bodies which are likely to have to deal with the Catholic Church should be screened to ensure that they will not show inappropriate deference to the Catholic Church. Those who feel they are 'Catholic first and Irish second' should seek promotion in other organs of the State."

Sounds like something out of Communist Russia or Nazi Germany, or even England at the height of the persecution following the Reformation.  Newspaper report here.  I presume, then, as Labour likes to present itself as an equal opportunities organisation, the following statements are also true:

"All senior officials in state bodies which are likely to have to deal with Muslims should be screened to ensure that they will not show inappropriate deference to Islam. Those who feel they are 'Muslim first and Irish second' should seek promotion in other organs of the State."

"All senior officials in state bodies which are likely to have to deal with women should be screened to ensure that they will not show inappropriate deference to women. Those who feel they are 'women first and Irish second' should seek promotion in other organs of the State."

"All senior officials in state bodies which are likely to have to deal with homosexuals should be screened to ensure that they will not show inappropriate deference to the gay movement. Those who feel they are 'gay first and Irish second' should seek promotion in other organs of the State."

Well?  Not on your nellie.  Labour is, once again, revealing the hatred it has for Catholicism.  In my opinion (and it has always been my voting pattern), in conscience a Catholic cannot vote for Labour, not even when a relation is standing for election.   I think, at times, we have a duty to vote against Labour and against those who seek to form partnership with them.  I think at the next election, faithful Catholics should get together and start to weigh up who we can vote for: perhaps it is time for the formation of a particular "Catholic vote" in Ireland.

Seeing as this lot are in government for the next four years, we had better get ready for more.  As with all tyrannies, they will soon be drunk with power and God help us all then.

Holy St Brigid,

Mary of the Gael,

dear mother of the Irish people,

come to our help!

The Issue of Life: Election Issue

This Election....Life is in your hands!

My colleague over at the St Genesius blog drew my attention to this article by David Quinn.   You may remember I had remarked in an earlier post on our local Labour candidate canvasing outside one of our churches a couple of weeks ago.  David is as disturbed as I am.  

As a priest I cannot be political, but I can advise my flock on moral issues.  I cannot advise my flock on how to vote, but I can remind them of the Gospel of Life and how that must form their conscience and their opinion of a candidate and a party, and that they as Christians must choose life, and so choose those who support life and not destroy it.  The issue of Life IS an election issue.  To my readers in Ireland - spread the word,.  To my readers around the world, please pray for Ireland.

Land Grab

I spotted my first politician on the campaign trail this morning.  It was a Labour councillor standing outside my church pushing his leaflets on my parishioners as they came out from Mass.  Do I sound miffed?  Well I am. 

I do not believe political parties should be cornering people when they come out from Mass and I certainly do not want to see the likes of Labour who despise our Catholic faith and are committed to legalising the murder of innocent Irish children, politicking outside a Catholic church.  "The nerve", I said to myself - they crucify our Church, work against our cherished beliefs and, steeped in the culture of death, proclaim Christian teaching on the sanctity of life to be oppressive, but then descend on our sacred gatherings touting for votes.  They seem not to have the wherewithal to realise how inappropriate and offensive that is.   But then, as history teaches us, socialism and communism never worried about such things.

The outcome?  Mr Labour councillor was gone before I could get out to send him packing - he probably saw the fire in my eyes from the distance.   Good that he was, I was already in a rage - some decent individual cleared out our heating oil over the weekend, so we were all in the cold asking God for the grace to forgive.  There are a lot of robberies around the parish lately.  Anyway, good news: a new statue of Our Lady, gift of an anonymous donor, was enthroned in our Adoration Chapel.  May she watch over us and help us in the important decisions which lie ahead - and may she help us keep abortion out of Ireland.