Abortion and Catholicism

Marie Stopes’ move into Belfast creates dilemmas for many Catholics, including me.

Nobody really likes the idea of abortion being carried out in this country, or anywhere else, but the thought of vulnerable girls and young women being exported to Britain to have an abortion is a concerning matter.

I believe that the reason why our culture overlooks the interests of girls and young women is because of the maleness of some of our values. If abortion, divorce or contraception affected men in the way they affect women, there is no doubt in my mind that a more practical position would be found.

How could this happen? Aren’t these values core positions for Catholics? Isn’t the Pope infallible in these matters of morality? Well, Jesus gave us no answers on abortion or contraception and was said to have allowed divorce in certain circumstances (Mt 19: 9). But I can’t see him condemning a woman for doing any of these things. He certainly didn’t condemn the adulteress for her sin.

I believe we come to Jesus, to the Church, and to others through love, not through law.

John O’Connell

Derry