LONDON: Despite overall public opinion seemingly in support of abortion reform in Ireland that would allow doctors to perform "life-saving" abortions, the country's Catholic bishops continue to stand against any bill that would legalize abortion at any level, even when the health of the mother is a risk. The legislation, ironically known as the “Protection of Life during Pregnancy" act, is a “dramatic and morally unacceptable change to Irish law," the bishops said. They explained that it would “make the direct and intentional killing of unborn children lawful in Ireland." The legislation is “unnecessary to ensure that women receive the life-saving treatment they need during pregnancy," the Irish bishops observed. Existing law allows doctors to take any steps that are medically necessary, even at risk to the unborn child, to save the life of a mother in a crisis pregnancy. Prime Minister Enda Kenny, speaking to reporters after his government published the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, said he hoped the coming weeks of debate would not turn bitter. But he warned Catholic conservatives within his own party to back the bill or be expelled. “I do hope that we can bring everybody with us, on an issue that I know is sensitive," said Kenny, who added that his government was seeking only “a clarification of rights within existing law." Kenny said the bill would set a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone involved in an illegal abortion, whether doctor or patient. The current law, dating to 1861, sets the maximum penalty at life. The bill, if passed, would change nothing for the vast majority of an estimated 4,000 Irish women who travel annually for abortions in England, nor the growing number who order miscarriage-inducing drugs over the Internet. But the issue of abortions in Ireland is strong and many question whether the government and health agencies are doing enough to protect mothers' ability to choose what is best for their bodies, especially in similar situations. The death of Savita Halappanavar has shocked much of India, and has led to rights groups lashing out at the Irish government and medical community over the matter. According to a Galway-based surgeon and close friend of the woman, the case must be the subject of an independent public inquiry. It was. But the resulting findings did little to ease any tension among women's rights activists and anti-choice leaders. Sore, a 23-year-old university student, told Bikyanews.com that the rising anger towards women and their ability to decide for their body is “a hard issue that needs to be looked at if Ireland is to really be a European country and not a place that is stuck 150 years ago." For her, this is the most important issue. “We women must start to change what others can tell us what to do with our bodies and make change for a better Ireland. How many more women will die?" BN
