Archbishop: State has no right to destroy life

The future head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has entered the row over abortion legislation by declaring that the State has no right to destroy life.

It comes as a Fine Gael TD backed calls for legal representation for the unborn if an abortion was being considered.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, who will be Primate of All-Ireland when the incumbent Cardinal Seán Brady retires, questioned how the planned laws were the will of the people when the protection of a mother and her child were enshrined in the Constitution.

Archbishop Martin’s comments ahead of next week’s anticipated Oireachtas hearings on the draft abortion legislation are in direct contrast to remarks made by the Taoiseach last week.

During a visit to Knock, Taoiseach Enda Kenny declared his book was the “book of the Constitution” and the Constitution was determined by the people.

But Archbishop Martin last night launched a stinging attack on the planned law.

“The right to life is such a natural and inviolable right that no individual, no majority and no state can ever create, modify or destroy it,” he said. “How can it be claimed that this is the will of the Irish people who had enshrined in the Constitution the protection of the life of both a mother and her unborn child?”

He said efforts instead of the planned legislation should go to supporting mothers with fears about pregnancies and guidelines for medical personnel.

“None of us can leave our faith ‘outside the room’ when we are considering these matters,” he said during an address in Dundalk.

His criticisms came as European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton said there was growing support in the Oireachtas for changes to the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.

The pro-life TD said she supported calls for the unborn to be legally represented where abortion was being considered.

“That’s something that I think absolutely merits consideration. The fact there could be argument that, constitutionally, it could be required. That’s something I would like to see in the legislation,” she told RTÉ. She said she supported the idea of a “sunset clause or a mandatory review” of abortion cases after a number of years.

She also said that in every jurisdiction there was provision for “term limits” when carrying out a termination.

“I think there can be improvements. That’s my view, that’s the view of many of my colleagues in the Oireachtas.”

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that no women who have had abortions will contribute to the Oireachtas health committee’s three days of hearings which begin next Friday.