Archbishop: Cura should maintain anti-abortion ethos

The Archbishop of Dublin has expressed concerns about the running of the Catholic Church's pregnancy advice service Cura.

The concerns relate to the organisation's practice of giving details to clients about agencies which provide information on British abortion clinics.

A number of Catholic theologians have criticised the practice, which is expected to be discussed at a bishops conference next month at the request of Dr Diarmuid Martin.

Reports this morning said Cura could lose €600,000 in funding from the State's Crisis Pregnancy Agency if it failed to give its clients details about other organisations.

However, speaking in Dublin today, Dr Martin said: "Cura was founded to provide alternatives to abortion and it should maintain that particular ethos, which I think is important for many women."