Bishop Hayes calls for renewed respect for human dignity

24 Jun, 2025 | News, Uncategorized

At the annual Pilgrimage for Life Mass on Saturday, 23 June, in Our Lady’s Basilica, Knock, Bishop Martin Hayes delivered a powerful call to renew Ireland’s commitment to a culture of life, anchored in the Gospel and the natural law.  The Mass was organised by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Council for Life, of which Bishop Hayes is a member.

Addressing hundreds of pilgrims, Bishop Hayes spoke of the foundational Christian belief that every person is made in the image and likeness of God from the moment of conception.  He reflected on the Gospel of the Annunciation and Mary’s courageous “yes” to life, urging society to follow her example.

Highlighting modern threats to life – including abortion, euthanasia, and societal disregard for the vulnerable – Bishop Hayes questioned democracies that uphold contradictory values on human dignity.  “Any law contrary to natural law,” he said, “is an act of violence and a corruption of the law, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas.”

The Bishop of Kilmore noted with concern the passing of the Terminally Ill Adults Assisted Dying Bill in the UK and rising abortion rates in Ireland, calling these developments tragic and urging civil leaders to respect life from conception to natural death.  “We must advocate for laws that protect the unborn, support pregnant mothers, and reject euthanasia in favour of compassionate care,” he said.

He emphasised that being “a people of life and for life” also means caring for the sick, elderly, and marginalised, promoting mental health, responsible use of substances, and the protection of the environment.  “We must be in solidarity with all life—human and natural,” he said, referencing both Evangelium Vitae and Laudato Si’.

A strong message of compassion was extended to women who have had abortions, with Bishop Hayes echoing Pope John Paul II’s words that they can become “eloquent defenders of life.”

Concluding, Bishop Hayes called for a global “great prayer for life,” asking the faithful to recommit to prayer and fasting, the “most effective weapons against evil.”

To read Bishop Hayes’ homily, please click HERE

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