Archbishop criticised for 'deeply offensive' comments about abortion safe access zones
James Cox
The Catholic Primate of Ireland has been criticised over comments he made about Safe Access Zones for women seeking terminations.
Archbishop Eamon Martin was referring to a Bill being debated in the Seanad, which would ensure that women attending clinics are protected from intimidation.
The Archbishop said such a move would "further silence the voice of the innocent unborn" and increase fears for freedom of religion and speech.
He said banning what he called "peaceful vigils" was a mistake.
Archbishop Martin said: "What next? How long before it is deemed unlawful to openly express in Ireland the reasonable opinion that there are two lives in every pregnancy worth protecting – the life of a mother and the life of her unborn child?"
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith said the comments are deeply offensive, adding that safe access zones would not prevent people from airing their views.
"What this Bill does, it does what it says on the tin. It creates a zone around the provider of a service... whether that be a clinic, a GP centre or a hospital... where people who are protesting against the delivery of abortion services cannot push up or get too close to those who are accessing the services, or indeed, the workers who are providing them like doctors, nurses and midwives.
"For the Archbishop to say that the safe access zones are a hindrance to people’s freedom of expression or religion is a nonsense.
"These safe access zones do not impinge on anyone’s religion or freedom of expression – they merely seek to protect vulnerable pregnant women and pregnant people from the potential for harassment."
Ms Smith added: "For too long the Catholic Church has tried to control women and their choice over their bodies and their healthcare decisions.
"The Repeal referendum result was categoric – the Catholic Church is trying to have a rerun of the arguments of the referendum.
"They need to realise that the referendum is over."
