Hierarchy focus on lobbying rather than challenging law

The Catholic hierarchy will not mount a legal challenge to the Government’s planned legislation on abortion.

Bishops will instead focus their attention on trying to mobilise support among Catholics for their stance by having them lobby their TDs and senators in the run-up to the vote on the legislation expected to take place in July.

The hierarchy has also left the threat of excommunication hanging over Catholic members of the Dáil who vote for the so-called abortion legislation in its current format.