An outspoken Donegal based priest has said that any legislation on abortion should not be passed under the terms of the ‘X’ case, as he believed this would make Irish abortion laws amongst the most liberal in Europe. He also welcomed a recent decision by Donegal County Council to vote against the introduction of abortion legislation.
Fr John Joe Duffy, who is based on Arranmore Island off County Donegal said, “I welcome the decision taken by Donegal County Council in relation to their stance on the abortion issue, in that they are not in favour of the Minister for Health Dr James Reilly, legislating for abortion under the terms of the X case.”
He added, “I now call on all political representatives at local and national level to clearly state where they stand in relation to the proposed legislation by Doctor James Reilly.”
He continued, “It is time to get off the fence. I am calling, in particular, on Sinn Féin locally and nationally to clearly state where they stand, in the same manner that I am calling on all political parties to clearly state where they stand. It is now time for political parties to show moral courage and protect the rights of the unborn child.”
Speaking about the debate that is taking place on abortion, he urged all sides to be sensitive about the type of language we use.
“Abortion is wrong under any circumstances and no matter how you may try to dress it up linguistically, it is what it is. But we must be exceptionally sensitive in our use of language in relation to the future debate which will be on abortion.”
Speaking about introducing legislation on abortion he said, “The only way the abortion debate can be revisited is by a referendum where the choice will be put to all the Irish people and that all Irish people will have their say on this matter. Legislation is not the way forward on this issue and it would be wrong for any government to forward this matter by legislation alone.”