Ireland Prime Minister: Catholic Hospitals Will Have to Perform Abortions

Leo Varadkar speaks to people as he leaves Government buildings after being elected by
parliamentary vote as the next Prime Minister of Ireland (Taoiseach)
 to replace Enda Kenny in Dublin, Ireland on June 14, 2017.

By Brandon Showalter
Christian Post

Fresh off the repeal of the 8th amendment of their constitution prohibiting abortion nationwide, Ireland is set to require Catholic hospitals to perform the procedure, a move that is alarming many.

The BBC reported Tuesday that the European island nation, whose voters overwhelmingly opted to strike the pro-life provision of their national constitution on May 25, is now drafting legislation allowing any woman to request an abortion up to 12 weeks. This is subject to a "cooling off period," and will also allow abortion in what are considered extreme cases between 12 and 24 weeks.

Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar said the law would be patterned after the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act which allowed for abortion in extreme medical situations, and allow individual medical professionals to decline to participate.

"It will not, however, be possible for publicly-funded hospitals, no matter who their patron or owner is, to opt out of providing these necessary services which will be legal in this state once this legislation is passed by the Dáil and Seanad (senate)," Varadkar said.

"I'm happy to give you that assurance," he added, noting the legislation "will allow individuals to opt out based on their consciences or their religious convictions but will not allow institutions to do so."

He continued: 

"So, just as is the case now in the legislation for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, hospitals like for example Holles Street, which is a Catholic voluntary ethos hospital, the Mater, St Vincent's and others will be required, and will be expected to, carry out any procedure that is legal in this state and that is the model we will follow."

That the country which so recently abandoned their pro-life legal structure is now set to force Catholic medical institutions to perform abortions has alarmed observers from around the world.

"Well that was fast," commented Chad C. Pecknold, professor of systematic theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., retweeting the BBC report.

"You know a regime has become deeply disordered when laws coerce the Church to join in the injustice. The worse the disorder, the faster it happens."

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