Bishop Noel Treanor’s response to the news of the opening of the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast
Last Sunday, 7 October, marked the launch of the ‘Choose Life’ appeal by the Catholic Church in Ireland to highlight the dignity and value of human life, especially in its earliest stages. As a Christian community and as citizens, not only must we show compassion for women who find themselves facing an unwanted pregnancy, but we should support them to explore avenues which provide care while respecting the life of their child in the womb. We should enable them to respond to such situations in a life-affirming and positive way.
It is the consistent teaching of the Catholic Church that, by virtue of their common humanity, the lives of both a mother and her unborn baby are sacred. The termination of human life following conception denies the humanity and inherent dignity of the child in the womb and violates the right to life, the most basic human right of all.
It is with great concern and dismay that I, like many fellow citizens who value and seek to protect human life, received news of the decision to open a Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast where medical abortion will be offered. The opening of this facility further undermines the sanctity and dignity of human life in our society where the most vulnerable and defenseless human beings are already under threat.
ENDS
- Bishop Noel Treanor is Bishop of Down & Connor
For media contact: Father Eddie McGee, Diocese of Down & Connor 0044 (0) 78111 44268 or the Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678
