Pro-life campaigners in Ireland have described a vote that paves the way for abortion on demand up to 12 weeks as “a tragedy of historic proportions.”
After all 40 constituencies reported, the official result is that 66.4 percent of citizens opted to remove the strongly pro-life Eighth Amendment from the Constitution, while 33.6 percent voter to retain it.
Voters chose to insert the amendment in the constitution in 1983 by a margin of two to one, and it “acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”
That text will now be deleted and replaced with an article stating that “provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris has said that he will now bring forward legislation that will allow abortion on demand up to 12 weeks, up to 24 weeks on unspecified grounds for the health of the mother, and up to birth where the child is diagnosed with a life-limiting condition that means he or she may not live long after birth.
The exit poll asked voters what motivated them to opt for either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Among ‘yes’ voters, the most important issues were the right to choose (84 percent), the health or life of the woman (69 percent), and pregnancy as a result of rape (52 percent).
Among ‘no’ voters, the driving concerns were the right to life of the unborn (76 percent), the right to life of those with Down syndrome or other disabilities (36 percent), and religious views (28 percent).
John McGuirk, a spokesman for “Save the Eighth,” which was campaigning for a ‘no’ vote, described the outcome as “a tragedy of historic proportions.”
“The Eighth Amendment did not create a right to life for the unborn child – it merely acknowledged that such a right exists, has always existed, and will always exist,” he said, insisting that “a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it.”
There was no immediate reaction from the Catholic hierarchy. The Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, is expected to address the issue during a homily at the national Marian shrine of Knock on Sunday (today).
The Irish bishops’ conference is also scheduled to meet for their quarterly plenary meeting next week, and is expected to issue a statement on the issue then.
Full story at Crux.
Sadly, the influence of Catholicism in Ireland has been severely damaged and diminished due to the numerous scandals that have plagued the Church in Ireland and throughout the world. Many centuries of faithful practice of the faith will be required for the Church to recover from the damage done.
In most countries where such sins are “legal”, courts have imposed abortion and same sex so-called marriage upon their people. Irish citizens have shockingly voted these abominations upon themselves! Divine retribution will surely come their way, perhaps that’s what it will take to return Ireland to God. Listen for the gnashing of teeth.
Satan is far more powerful than individual men. The Church, which Christ imbued with special powers, has ignored its historic and divine duties to confront Satan in this world. What happened in Ireland is one of many examples where cowardly and perfidious clergy simply walked away from their duties. (Who knows, perhaps to attend to their true perversities?)
Time to pray and time to fire the fools that wear the Roman collars, but who do so little for Catholics. This shows how the true Church has changed character and beliefs. Get rid of this offal.
Ireland has fallen to the diabolical forces promoting the culture of death. The abortion of the unborn is quite clearly the number one issue facing humanity today. Obviously the people of Ireland did not look at the horrific numbers of 60 MILLION that have been killed by abortion since Roe versus Wade legalized abortion in America in 1973. America and Ireland turn to a God of love and mercy before it is too late or face God’s wrath and judgement. Jesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords True God and True Man is coming back soon like a thief in the night. Repent and convert! Adoption is the loving option. Pray America Pray. Pray Ireland Pray. Pray the Rosary. Pray Pray Pray!
Not to be a jerk about this, but things in America and around the world and in the Church continue to worsen. All the while people are saying, “Pray the rosary, go to adoration, offer up reparations.” What good has any of that done? I really want to know. Isn’t it discouraging to have so many prayers go unanswered, to watch while things get worse and worse despite sincere people’s prayers? What sense is to be made of it?
You’re not exactly the first person to ask that question, Steve. Nor will you be the last. The author of Psalm 13 seems to know how you (and the rest of us) feel. How about the Book of Job? It’s a very common question, with no easy answers. But, what would you propose instead of prayer that you believe would work?
The only alternative to prayer would be to throw up your hands and say, “I give up.”
If a human being were as neglectful as God appears to be to his faithful, would anyone put up with that? How many chances would any of us give to another human being to respond, to do something to maintain a relationship, to help when we ask? How long would it take us to realize that a friend who never responded really wasn’t our friend, so we would give up on that person and write him out of our life. But God gets a pass on his silence and inaction because he’s God and we can’t question his ways?
Steve: Well, you’ve asked four questions, and here are my answers: 1) I wouldn’t. 2) Well, more than one, but after that I doubt it. 3) Not long. 4) Yeah, that’s about it, Steve. Look, I know how you feel. I’ve been sick for thirty years. But God is God. The fact is, he always knows what he’s doing. You can keep on praying, or you can get sour and give up. What can I say?
Steve:
We “save ourselves from this corrupt generation”, as Peter told the crowd on Pentecost. We can’t save any man against his own perverse will; even God doesn’t do that. There is a quote somewhere from St. Columba about how a monk should deal with a corrupt monastery: Nave fracta qui protest natare natet (“If the ship is sinking, let he who can swim, swim!”) Prayer is our water-wings in this ocean of swinishness.
Steve, it’s called faith. No prayer goes unanswered, and if it seems the answer is “no”, stay in the battle and keep praying. God can use your prayers any way He likes, He can apply them to any person or situation, you must endure! Patient endurance may be the cross that you are to carry to your eternal reward. You can only control your own personal holiness, so stay with God, even as others desert Him.
It is painful to witness the great decline of the Faith at the hands of the Hired Man Clergy that are more interested in their private concerns than in the welfare of the flock. When we pray our rosaries, go to adoration and lift up our many prayers on behalf of the people of Ireland, God answers those prayers. We simply do not know how. I believe that this vote result followed upon previous vote results from an Irish population that no longer has the faith of their ancestors. Grace has been set aside in favor of what is perceived as new wealth from the European Community. French Canada experienced a similar abandonment of faith a generation ago in the “Quiet Revolution” of the Marxist Parti Québecois. How shall those of us proceed?…
Steve, thank you for your rosaries, your reparations, your holy hours. You have helped save many babies who are grateful to you. They will thank you in eternity when all is made known.
God does not ask us to be successful, He asks us to be faithful-Saint Teresa of Calcutta
The two-thirds vote is very disappointing but reflects the times we live in. Catholicism was left to rot and the culture of Death has flourished in the cultural Marxism that permeates society. Cultural Marxism is also winning elections on homosexual marriage, marijuana, euthanasia, illegal immigration and even transvestite bathrooms. We will have to circle the wagons and preserve the Faith for future generations. Hard.
Ireland, once a nation of saints has cast its lot with Satan. An isle that was rid of the snakes of paganism by St. Patrick is now overrun by the snakes of apostasy. Wasn’t the post Vatican II era supposed to usher in ‘fresh air’ and a “New Pentecost”? Instead it has brought about the stench of evil. Once Catholic nations have turned their collective back to Our Lord and His Church. Lightning struck the UK soon after the abortion vote. The wrath of God will soon be upon us for our wickedness.
Lightning struck the UK. So what? The vote was in Ireland. Besides, votes don’t affect the weather. That storm would have happened regardless of the outcome and even if there hadn’t been a referendum. If the Irish economy booms over the next year, will that be attributed to the vote? No. But if there’s some disaster in the country some well-intentioned pious person will say it’s God’s punishment. Selective interpretation.
Mean spirited comment
Claudia, Ireland itself experienced thousands of lightning strikes right after the vote, right along with London. The Irish were going to London for abortions. When our government overrode the vote of the people of California against unions between same -sexed people, the same thing happened here — thousands of lightening strikes, many of which set off forest fires. Call it coincidence if you want, but the people of Noah and Lots time said the same thing. I will not , like Lot’s wife, turn back and vote for either.
There was huge, sudden flooding in Maryland after the vote. Lots of Catholics in Maryland, probably Irish too. Was there a connection between the flooding and the vote in Ireland?
This is a sign that the revealing of the Medjugorje secrets which will change the world is very close.
Medjugorje is not of God…
St. JPII and Pope Emeritus BXVI accepted Medjugorje. Pope John Paul II gave his blessing to it! You don’t have to accept it – but I wouldn’t condemn it as being not of God!
Neither of those Popes accepted Medjugorje that is a falsehood. The messages are also absurd and have contradicted Catholic teaching. Its a hoax
No it’s not. I think Medjugarje is a hoax. The Vatican won’t even say it’s real. They know. But they don’t want to hurt the tourist economy there so they just say nothing.
If you can kill the family (with “same sex ‘marriage””) what is left than to kill the children therefrom?
This was a repudiation of the clericalism that exploded in Ireland after the 1920s. Clergy was granted unconditional aristocratic status by the Republic of Ireland with good intentions and as a reaction to British anti-Catholicism. The issue was that this highly favored, government endorsed status was taken for granted and abused by some of the beneficiaries. Then came the scandals then the Catholic Church was “fired” by the Irish, first on the homosexuality front then on the abortion front. Notice that Poland, a very Catholic identifying country has not suffered the same fate. Presumably because the clergy there suffered along side the laity under the Nazi’s and Soviets in solidarity during the 20th century.
The lives of the Irish Catholics of days gone by who sacrificed for their faith gives witness to the sinful and pathetic nature of this vote now. The Irish Bishops were MIA on this and are silent still! They should have released a statement IMMEDIATELY !!! The silence of the Bishops indicates cowardice and loss of faith. God have mercy on Ireland. Prophesy regarding that island being inundated will surely come to pass. God help them. Terrifying culpability now falls upon all there who will now have the blood of the innocent on their hands!
Time to listen to the song by Irish Fr. Liam Lawton: “The Cloud’s Veil”
Even though the rain hides the stars, Even though the mist swirls the hills, Even when the dark clouds veil the sky, You are by my side.
Even when the sun shall fall in sleep, Even when at dawn the sky shall weep, Even in the night when storms shall rise, You are by my side. You are by my side.
Found it on YouTube, lovely! Thanks Leigh :)
Since Vatican II, the Church has relinquished her governance, worldwide, in favor of “freedom for all,” clergy and laity. And religious and moral training— catechesis— has been discarded, worldwide, too! Without proper religious and moral training,and lifelong guidance, in the practice of the Catholic Faith– the world is hopeless, in the clutchew of Satan and sin!
Our Lady recommends prayer, fasting, and penance, as a way to help our poor world, lost to sin! In tough times, that is all we have! But miracles do happen! This is really not just a case of passing laws, to prevent the crime of abortion. It is really a matter of conversion of a world lost to sin! When the world is filled with lots of people who are converted to Christ, leading good Christian lives– then these good people will all pass good laws, based on Christian beliefs and values, to protect the innocent, and prevent horrible crimes! Same problem, here in the United States– a country also lost to sin!
Our Lady told the children of Fatima, that more souls go to Hell for sins of the flesh, than for any other! The Church must preach a mature understanding of Christian Morality, of sin and Salvation— and what is required, by God, to lead a good life! Respect Life always means— first of all– to respect God, and practice the virtues of Self-Control and Chastity!
The news story about the Boy Scouts can be found on the May 22nd edition of http://www.theblaze.com. Shocking!! The rules for mandated condom distribution, are in the 2016 Handbook!! Horrific!!
Lepanto said:
It was a defeat. Epic and total… one that saw the laity abandoned to the wolves, the Catholic bishops mouthing support but never truly engaging in the fight, and Pope Francis (once again) silent in the face of the enemies of the Catholic Church
socialist billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Institute funneled tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of euros into efforts to destabilize and destroy Ireland’s 8th Amendment.
Ireland’s Bishop lost what little moral authority they had left defending homosexual priests preying upon young boys — did precious little to stem the tide.
Instead, bishops were left to their own devices. In ones and twos they resisted… but not with unanimity and certainly not with…