Same old arguments in favour of abortion

A NUMBER of letter-writers in recent weeks have called for abortion to be legalised here.

Beth Wallace (May 18) asks us not to judge women who choose abortion because we cannot know their circumstances.

She complains that “the Government has failed society … they have failed children”.

Perhaps Ms Wallace can explain how killing children before they are even born is supposed to ‘help’ them?

Killing our own unborn offspring — especially at a time when our birth rate has declined sharply — does not help our society either.

Jennifer Dewan (Letters, May 31) complains about a Government that sanctions abortion “as long as it happens elsewhere”.

This is not fair: the Government isn’t in a position to stop actions occurring outside its jurisdiction anymore than it prosecutes someone who goes to Amsterdam to take drugs. That doesn’t mean it necessarily approves of the act.

Ms Dewan argues that these women’s health is not being protected, though Irish law allows for abortion where there is a threat to the health of the mother.

Similar arguments were advanced in other countries to introduce abortion and, as we have seen, in most cases it has simply become another form of contraception.

In some ways there has never been an easier time to have a child in Ireland.

There is State help for single mothers — far more than is available in many other European countries. There are long waiting lists of couples desperate to adopt. In short there are now fewer reasons than ever to choose abortion.

Ms Wallace and Ms Dewan may not be aware of it, but the tide is slowly turning against abortion in those countries that allow it. When this barbaric practice is finally outlawed, Ireland will have been almost the only western country never to have introduced it — truly a mark of our civilisation.

Nick Folley

36 Ardcarrig

Carrigaline

Co Cork