Emergency pill splits Church and State

The Catholic Church and Government clashed yesterday over next week’s abortion referendum as a poll highlighted confusion among voters.

While bishops support the Government campaign for a Yes vote on the substantive issue of abortion, they questioned the future protection of the morning-after pill.

The conflict over its legality can only be resolved by the Supreme Court, a spokesman for the bishops claimed last night.

They dispute the Government’s claim that supporting the March 6 referendum would safeguard the use of the emergency contraception pill.

“Ultimately the only definite interpretation of its use can be given by the Supreme Court,” Fr Martin Clarke said.

The bishops’ view is supported by Lawyers Against the Amendment, who claimed last night any anti-contraceptive group could launch a court challenge.

“They could seek a court order to stop a family planning clinic issuing a morning after pill or IUD (or the coil) to clients if the referendum is passed,” the lawyers’ spokeswoman Aoife Goodman said.

One group, Ireland for Life, said it will seek a judicial review in the High Court next month of the Irish Medicines Board’s decision to license one brand of morningafter pill as a contraceptive.

The divisions emerged as an opinion poll published yesterday showed over 30% of the electorate still don’t know how they will vote in next week’s referendum.

Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick claimed at the weekend Catholic Bishops had legal advice the morning-after pill will not be protected if the referendum is passed. He said it is not at all clear that the Government’s proposal will remove all uncertainty currently surrounding emergency contraceptives.

“Certainly our advice seems to be that it does not remove uncertainty. We cannot see how it will weaken the position of embryo before implantation,” Bishop Murray said.

The Catholic Bishops spokesman said they had issued a very comprehensive statement yesterday and reached their own conclusions about the referendum.

“We are not commenting on anyone else’s interpretation of the proposed amendment - we are not owned by any political party or group,” Fr Martin Clarke added.

But a Government spokeswoman said yesterday their legal advice was still that their referendum proposal would safeguard the constitutional status of the morning-after pill. And those who use this emergency contraceptive would no longer be liable for criminal prosecution if the referendum is passed.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Ruairi Quinn called on the Taoiseach last night to clarify the confusion arising from the conflicting viewpoints.

“The Taoiseach has in my view a responsibility to resolve that conflict. He should publish the legal advice that he has received because there seems to be a conflict with what the Irish Catholic Bishops have received, according to Bishop Murray today,” said Mr Quinn.