A chara, Catherine Forde of the Irish Family Planning Association accuses successive governments of "lacking courage and leadership" for failing to legalise abortion in Ireland (The Irish Times, August 10th). In her blind devotion to the cause, Ms Forde betrays a complete ignorance of the fact that the majority of political parties representing the majority of the electorate do not actually want abortion legalised in Ireland, not because they're afraid to, but because they think it's wrong.
The pro-abortion campaigners seem intent on hammering home the suggestion that their side represents the positive, forward-thinking, progressive and liberal view, while the backward pro-lifers are caught in some kind of moral time warp. However, an examination of the countries whose "progressive" regimes they desperately aspire to emulate actually demonstrates that abortion is being re-examined with a view to curtailing it, not making it more freely available.
While the drive to limit abortion in the US is unfortunately being led by conservative and religious groups (though the issue properly concerns neither), in Britain it is being examined, far more sensibly in my view, from ethical and medical perspectives. It is actually quite likely that in coming years abortion will be greatly limited in Britain, and probably banned altogether in America, with a consequent curtailment in countries which can't think for themselves but look to these "world leaders" for direction.
As people evolve and develop a greater respect for human life, it is inevitable that many of the barbaric practices which the human race has developed over the years - including abortion, capital punishment, torture and mutilation - will be re-examined in a fresh light, and future generations will look back in horror at what we did to ourselves.
In my view, there is only one truly "progressive" viewpoint on this matter. Maybe Ireland has got it right? - Is mise,
DAVID CARROLL, Castle Gate, Dublin 2.
Madam, - The latest campaign by the IFPA seeking to have abortion imposed on Ireland is not entirely surprising. As an organisation the IFPA has consistently shown total disregard for the rights of unborn children while also ignoring the negative after-effects of abortion on women.
For the IFPA to argue that abortion is necessary to protect women's health is simply scaremongering. Ireland without legal abortion is a recognised world leader in safeguarding women's lives during pregnancy.
Every society has to confront the reality of crisis pregnancy. But legal abortion is not the answer. The challenge is to create a more welcoming environment for expectant mothers and their unborn children by providing positive alternatives to abortion. Abortion regimes exist in many countries with abortion legal up to birth. Under such conditions society forfeits all credibility as a protector of human rights when it cannot be relied upon to vindicate the most basic right of all, the right to life. Without the right to life all other rights are meaningless.
As a State agency the Crisis Pregnancy Agency cannot remain silent over this latest controversy. It must immediately review its continued funding of the IFPA, given that it is manifestly a political campaigning organisation.
In the coming months, the Pro-Life Campaign will oppose the campaign for abortion legislation in a robust but reasoned manner. A truly liberal and progressive society is one that defends its weakest and most vulnerable members rather than denying their existence. - Yours, etc,
AUDREY DILLON, Pro-Life Campaign, Dublin 1.