No to abortion story told in front of children

I was truly horrified to read that a woman gave a graphic account of her abortion to a congregation that contained an estimated 100 children at a mass in Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

Anyone has the right to speak out against abortion and I respect those opinions.

However, to describe special needs children as punishments from God is utterly cruel and immoral in any context.

Moreover, in the context of a Catholic Church-led pro-life campaign they are revealing of that organisation’s lack of respect for the lives of all children and the minds of those children who have to listen to such derogatory postulations.

The priest involved stated that he was unaware of how hurtful the speaker’s comments would be. This is symbolic of the Irish Catholic Church’s total ignorance with regard to the issue at the heart of this: reproductive choice.

The Church is hosting a national month of prayer with the theme, ‘choose life’ in reaction to the calls for the Irish Government to legislate for abortion.

I do not understand where insulting and inflammatory comments that stigmatise special needs children within the rubric of Catholic morality fits in with this month of prayer and reflection.

In my opinion, this episode in the Irish Catholic Church’s campaign against reproductive choice has revealed that they really have nothing positive or constructive to contribute to the on-going abortion debate in this country.

Choose Life Month sounds good to me.

I’ll celebrate by valuing, without stigma or ignorance, the existing lives of adults and children.

Donna Alexander

Crosshaven

Co Cork