When I was young, the Roman Catholic Church had a much bigger influence on Irish public opinion than it has today. I was brought up Roman Catholic. In my teens, I questioned some of its distinctive doctrines. When I got to 18, I committed my life to Christ and became an evangelical Christian. But my views on abortion never really changed. In school, we were generally taught that abortion should only be allowed if the mother’s life was in danger.
In 1983, Ireland inserted the Eighth Amendment into the Constitution, giving the unborn an equal right to life as the mother. Some minor amendments were made to Irish legislation in the 1990s. And in the 1990s, we had our own children. The first was stillborn. It hit us very hard, but I took comfort in the fact that we spent the previous months looking forward to his birth and preparing his room. He would have been very warmly welcomed. And I look forward to meeting him in heaven. Thankfully, we had four other healthy children in the 1990s. And in our minds, they were all babies from the moment that we heard that they were on the way.
My impression of Ireland, even as a child, was that much of its religion was down to social pressure rather than genuine faith. And nowadays, most of the social pressure comes from liberal, anti-Christian forces, and many people just succumb in the same way that the succumbed to social pressure from the Roman Catholic Church in years gone by. No doubt, some, on both sides of the debate, are conscientious and put much thought and prayer into their decision. But I can’t understand someone not bothering to vote or just going with whatever they feel is the flow. I can understand that with politics in general, but not when the life of an individual is at stake.
In May 2018, 66.4% voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow abortion legislation. Current legislation means that abortion is allowed in the following circumstances:
- There is a fatal foetal anomaly
- Abortion on request up to 12 weeks, with a 3‑day waiting period.
- Beyond 12 weeks permitted if:
- The woman’s life or health is at serious risk
Many people remained neutral or voted “yes” despite the fact that they were against abortion. They left it to the woman’s conscience. Some also were aware than many people were travelling to the UK for abortions or inducing them themselves. Regarding the woman’s health being at serious risk, some are a bit skeptical about mental health claims. A woman who doesn’t want the baby is inevitably going to be mentally distressed, but is that a reason to abort the baby?
In the last few years, about 10,000 abortions occurred each year. Around 5% were classed as special cases. So, I would like to restrict abortions to special cases and ban abortion on demand. I realize that debate occurs on what constitutes a special case, but I would think that most accept that abortion might be acceptable in rare cases.
People think the abortion debate is between religious people and secularists, but you get varying views on both sides. I remember a debate with Christopher Hitchens who was utterly against religion, but also against abortion. And you get liberal religious people who are happy to leave it to the conscience of the individual woman, so they would accept the most recent legislation and might even argue for more liberal laws. But I would think that most in the evangelical world would want tight restrictions of abortions, as I do.
If I were an atheist, I think that I would hold the same view on abortion, but as a Christian, I sometimes think of this verse about the conception of John the Baptist, which took place shortly before the conception of Jesus:
Luke 1:15
“for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.”
Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Hibernia Gospel 