Controversy about bishops' referendum support. (Ireland).

Maynooth--At their conference here on December 13, 2001, the Irish bishops have given their support to a referendum on a constitutional amendment which, they say, will sanction "the right to life." The proposed amendment would ban abortion except in the case where a woman would die if she carried the pregnancy to term.

The legislation results from a sensational 1992 case where a 14-year-old girl, who claimed to be a rape victim, threatened suicide if she was not allowed to travel to England for an abortion and had the injunction restraining her overturned by the Supreme Court of Ireland.

The new Human Life and Pregnancy Bill, which has already passed one House of the Irish Parliament, would disallow suicide threats as grounds for the procedure. The bishops have accepted this as "a significant improvement," setting aside the "deficient aspects" of the previous judgement, and have stated that Catholic voters could support the measure "free in conscience.

The bishops continued by stating that "the existing rights of the unborn from the moment of conception...need to be reinforced by precise legislative measures." They affirmed their "continuing commitment" to women facing unwanted pregnancies, and condemned experimental procedures involving destruction of human embryos.

Various pro-life organizations, including SPUC (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) in the U.K., have criticized the bishops' statements. Despite its positive aspects, the new Bill gives legal protection to the unborn only after implantation (rather than after conception) in the womb. As well as opening the door to the use of the "morning after pill," this has ramifications regarding assisted human reproduction and embryonic research.

John Smeaton, national director of SPUC, called the action of the bishops deplorable: "They are giving credence to a proposal that early abortion can be discounted."

SPUC urges the Irish people "to stand by their prophetic commitment to the rights of the unborn child." The bishops should hold out for revision of the Bill.

For expert legal opinion, see the website of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children at: http:// www.spuc.org.uk/irishcomment.htm