SF: Days of church dictating is over

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty says the days of the Catholic church dictating to politicians are over but the lobbying of them is acceptable.

It follows comments by the Catholic Primate of All Ireland that the church intends to mount an anti-abortion campaign in the coming weeks.

An expert group is about to report to government on how best to legislate for the X case, which said 14 years ago that there should be access to an abortion here if there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the woman.

Doherty says while the Church is entitled to express a view, that's all it can be: "We're opposed to abortion but the issue has been determined by the courts and other referenda. It needs to be legislated for in a sensitive way.

"It doesn't surprise me at all that the Catholic church would suggest that they will lobby politicians. I think that anybody should be entitled to lobby politicians and express their views

"But the days of the church dictating are over and that's good for Irish society."