'Work actively' to oppose abortion reform, Irish Catholics urged

The Catholic church in Ireland has called on its followers to vote against liberalising the country’s strict anti-abortion laws in a referendum in May, in its most forceful intervention yet in the debate.

As the Irish parliament began to debate a referendum bill, the bishops called on Catholics to “work actively” to resist change.

Under the terms of a bill agreed by the government on Thursday, voters will be asked in May whether they want to repeal the eighth amendment, which was inserted into the constitution in 1983 and gives unborn foetuses and pregnant women an equal right to life, effectively enshrining a ban on abortion.

The government says that if the yes vote wins it will push legislation through parliament later this year to allow abortions to be carried out up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.

Source: Theguardian