Quick Link: Abortion and Ireland

In Ireland, abortion is illegal except in cases where it occurs as a result of medical intervention to save the life of the mother, and LifeNews notes that:

"With this medical practice Ireland, thankfully, has one of the lowest death rates of mothers in pregnancy anywhere in the world...Incredibly, some counsellors advised women how to illegally smuggle an abortion pill into Ireland and take it without medical supervision."

Tell me more about how being pro-abortion is all about preventing "back-alley" abortions from occurring.

In the meantime, what we know of the details of this case are actual cause for scandal (in the fullest sense of the word):

The failures in this case are widespread and devastating. Let me clarify why this case makes me particularly angry. Why my own relation to, and complicity with, this disaster tears at my being. Why I could hit somebody — as terrible as that sounds, but true as it is — right now.

First, the physicians in question did not deny Savita an abortion. They effectively aborted her, the mother. In doing so, they violated the statutes of the Irish Medical Council and, therefore, the law. They were not following the law of the land and deserve to be tried in court (for at least involuntary manslaughter) and quarantined from the Irish medical community. Two people died — Savita and her child — but the mother died from a formal, intentional neglect that was clearly accounted for within the present legal scope of the matter.

Secondly, the absurd claim that they supposedly made to justify it — “this is a Catholic country” — not only puts them at odds with their country, it also violates Catholic teaching, regardless of what our monstrous politicians say about it. Savita was NOT asking for an abortion. She was asking for her life to be saved. The unintended effect, most likely, would have been the death of her child (a tragedy in its own right), but it would not have been the intended outcome of the procedure. A classic and easy case for any informed Catholic to respond to. Induction. No questions.

Catholic teaching and doctrine on this point derives from the principle of Double-Effect. It is well-established and very old doctrine, grounded in philosophy more than theology. It can be found in Augustine and Aquinas, and more. It can be rationally understood and practiced. These medical professionals failed to understand or practice it. Their failure, their total ignorance on what the Church actually teaches, puts them in grave offense against the Church. They need to confess and begin penance — hopefully while doing time in prison.

 What has this death accomplished? Nothing. Two lives were lost, one completely needlessly, and it was done not because of the teachings of the Church nor the laws of Ireland, but despite them. So we have two dead, and the only effect is more ammo for those who hated the Church. Absolutely unconscionable.

May Savita Halappanavar--and her baby!--rest in peace, and most those who did this to her in defiance of their country's laws and the Church's teachings be brought to justice.