Christmas is upon us. Soon we celebrate the birth of a vulnerable baby, born into a fragile family.
A family who said “Yes” to life.
Mary loved her baby in her womb. My dear mother often said she believed in miracles when she held her new baby for the first time.
Christmas is about life, essentially the life of the unborn child in the womb.
It’s a fundamental human right. That is the right to life in the womb.
The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution is Ireland’s original Life Equality Amendment.
Notwithstanding the abortion legislation of 2013, the Eighth Amendment provides the last remaining protection for the unborn child in Ireland and must be robustly defended.
Dignity
Each human being regardless of age, gender, disability, race, status in society, possesses a profound, inherent, equal and irreplaceable value and dignity.
Abortion advocates want the unborn child to be an exception to this rule.
To do this they resort to the ploy of denying the humanity of the unborn.
The sign of a truly civilised society, however, is one that welcomes everyone in life and protects everyone in its laws.
Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone believes that only offering abortions in cases of incest, rape and fatal foetal abnormality would “do nothing at all for most women in Ireland”.
As a citizen of this Republic, I am absolutely shocked and saddened that a Minister with responsibility for children, would be so vociferous in her determination to legislate for a liberal style abortion on demand.
Does her fundamental responsibly not extend itself to protecting the vulnerable life of unborn children in the womb.
The Minister’s attitude, is mirrored by a clear bias the national media have, in favour, of repealing the eighth amendment.
This bias, must be challenged.
Our licence fees pays huge salaries to national broadcasters, who actively promote repealing the eighth amendment.
Disgrace
This is also a national disgrace that goes unchallenged by the mainstream.
One of the fundamentals of our constitution is supporting life, from the cradle to the grave, from the womb to the tomb. Children living in the womb, must as our proclamation of this Republic States …”all times be treasured”
I am also deeply outraged that the same minister and Government seem much less inclined to creating a culture of life and dignity for vulnerable children.
I think of thousands of children, this Christmas, living in hotel rooms because of homelessness.
Families struggling because of food poverty to provide basic nutrition to children.
I’m conscious of the huge cutbacks to children with special needs in terms of resources no longer available to them.
The list is endless … instead this minister calls for legislation to allow lives with wonderful potential and hope to be abruptly ended by abortion.
I am convinced that despite a strong campaign to repeal the eighth amendment, for the vast majority of citizens our natural orientation is to be pro-life.
How many mothers and fathers truly believe in the miracle of life the first time they feel the flicker of life in the womb.
My mother always said the greatest miracle is to hold her babies for the first time.
Cherish
How many parents who greatly grieve the loss of life due to miscarriage cherish every moment of their child’s life in the womb. Being pro-life is part of our DNA.
Our inclination is to live, so too does the life of a child in the womb.
Pragmatically I say bring on a referendum as soon as possible. End this constant negative secular culture of death, that has no tolerance or recognition of children in the womb.
Please, in the name of our humanity and our Creator God. Defend the dignity of unborn children living in the wombs in this Republic.
I think of this simple Christmas Carol, that speak volumes in how we must defend and protect babies growing in their mothers womb.
Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.
Fr Paddy Byrne
SEE ALSO – Fr Paddy: The greatest story ever told
The LaoisToday 2017 Annual is now on sale in bookshops and newsagents around the county – this is where you can buy it
