The Spring General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference concluded today in Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co Kildare. As part of their meeting bishops discussed the protection of unborn human life and issued the following statement:
Bishops affirmed the right to life of the unborn and discussed how society should seek to promote a culture of life. Bishops acknowledged that respect for the sacredness of every human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death is critical to the right of all citizens to be treated equally and with dignity.
Bishops noted some recent calls to remove article 40.3.3 from the Constitution of Ireland through which the State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practical, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right. The Constitution embraces the right to life of unborn children, including those who may be seriously ill.
Bishops strongly oppose any weakening of the affirmation of the right to life of the unborn and emphasised that human life, at all stages, deserves the utmost protection, compassion and care.
Please see www.chooselife2016.ie for related resources.
Read the full statement from the Spring General Meeting of Bishops here.
