Statement of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on human life and today’s High Court judgement

15 Nov 2006

PRESS RELEASE

15 NOVEMBER 2006

STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN

 
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has expressed serious concerns about today’s
decision of the High Court.  From a first consideration of the judgement,
it would appear that the decision casts doubt concerning the level of
protection which the Constitution affords to human life at its earliest
stages.  It is to be hoped that this issue will receive full consideration
in any eventual appeal to the Supreme Court and that the general protection
of every human life at all stages of its development will be vindicated,
as foreseen in Article 40,3,2 of the Constitution.

The Archbishop took the occasion to reiterate the clear teaching of the
Catholic Church that “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely
from the moment of conception.  From the first moment of his or her existence
a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person”.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2270)

ENDS

Clare Roche
Communications Office,
Archbishop’s House,
Dublin 9.
Telephone: (01) 836 0723
Facsimile: (01) 836 0793