WASHINGTON, D.C., June 7, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Ireland is one of the very few countries left in the West where the unborn child is protected from being murdered in his mother’s womb, and today U.S. pro-life activists lent a hand to their Irish colleagues in their effort to keep it that way in the face of mounting attacks.
A group of just over two dozen American pro-life advocates gathered today outside the Irish embassy in Washington, D.C., where they held a news conference and prayed that Ireland will stay true to its pro-life roots.
“We stand with pro-life Ireland because we have seen the devastating effects of legal abortion in America, with the deaths of over 55 million preborn baby girls and boys, the victimization of millions of women, and the crumbling of countless families,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America.
“It has taken us more than 40 years to start turning our nation back around after Roe v. Wade, but now we have the chance to exert international pressure to stop another Roe v. Wade moment in Ireland. The time is now to stand in solidarity with pro-lifers in Ireland as they courageously defend the preborn and prevent the genocide of millions of Irish children.”
The Irish government recently introduced an abortion bill that would allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy if the mother’s life is at risk, or if she threatens suicide.
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Local pro-life activists have said that the bill is unnecessary, since Irish law already allows doctors to perform medical procedures that may unintentionally cause the death of an unborn child, if doing so is necessary to save the mother’s life. They also say that there is no evidence that abortion is necessary to treat a mother who is suicidal, adding that the suicide exception will likely only open the door to widespread abuse.
Irish pro-lifers also say that the bill would almost certainly prove to be the crack that would bring down Ireland’s pro-life protections for the unborn, ushering in abortion-on-demand.
There are more than 36,000,000 Irish Americans living in the United States, and according to the pro-life activists who organized today’s event, a “vast majority” of them are troubled that the Irish government would legalize abortion.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, the principal organizer of the protest, has a long history of involvement in Ireland, which has included leading a peace walk from Dublin to Belfast praying for an end to sectarian violence 23 years ago and just last month holding a 100 mile prayer walk to keep Ireland abortion free.
“As an Irish American, I have always been proud of my Irish heritage and history,” said Mahoney. “The land of my ancestors has a rich history of literature, art, music, love of family and a deep concern for the poor and needy around the world.
“Sadly, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has not only broken his word and public trust by attempting to legislate abortion into Ireland after promising not to do so, he is also crushing the rich tradition that Ireland has had through the centuries of being a nation that has embraced and honored their children,” he added.
“We call upon the Irish government to stand for human rights and justice for all and keep Ireland abortion free. We pray that Ireland learns from the mistakes that America has made regarding abortion and never allows the violence of abortion on Irish soil.”
Kate Bryan, grassroots director for Live Action, agreed. “Women and their children deserve better than the brutality of abortion,” she said.
“As the proud granddaughter of an Irish immigrant, I have always been in love with the purity of my Irish heritage,” said Kathleen Hennesey, Communications Director for the Christian Defense Coalition. “Ireland is a nation with a long standing tradition of centuries of promoting and standing bravely for human rights, and a place that has always cherished and protected mothers, holding the children of it's nation in high esteem — born and preborn.
“We plead with the Irish government to stop this mad track that you are on to go off the road of your life affirming value of the preborn child, that you have held so dear for all of your existence! It is FOR women, and FOR children to maintain this oath! Please, learn from our mistakes in our own nation…it is a travesty of justice…not a human or woman's right.”