Harney’s unaccepatable bias on pregnancy advice

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney (July 21) voiced her support for the Crisis Pregnancy Agency’s latest advertising initiative which targets supposedly rogue crisis pregnancy counsellors.

Announcing the campaign, the minister focused exclusively on “rogue” agencies opposed to abortion.

I wholeheartedly agree that pregnancy counselling services should not engage in rogue practices or disseminate bogus information. However, Ms Harney’s decision only to target counselling groups opposed to abortion reveals an unacceptable bias.

We need a responsible debate on best practice in pregnancy counselling, not ad hominem attacks which create an impression the problem is exclusively a pro-life one. Using taxpayers’ money to demonise the entire pro-life movement is certainly not an appropriate way for a Government to behave. If Ms Harney wishes to adopt a balanced approach she should also express concern about how “pro-choice” counselling agencies refuse to make women aware of the latest peer reviewed studies showing the negative long-term psychological consequences of abortion.

As the recent interview with the woman at the centre of the ‘C’ case revealed, the health authorities in whose care she was placed never explained to her what an abortion was before taking her to England to end her pregnancy.

She subsequently regretted her abortion, but the behaviour of health care professionals involved in the case has never been questioned.

It would be fitting if the minister investigated the apparently appalling tactics used by some healthcare personnel in this particular case.

Caitriona Cummins

Pro-Life Campaign

Lr Baggot Street

Dublin 2