American Pro-Life Leaders Warn Ireland of the Dangers of Legalizing Abortion

International   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Mar 15, 2018   |   9:37AM   |   Dublin, Ireland

A group of American pro-life leaders urged Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to preserve the rights of unborn babies in the Irish Constitution.

Ireland is scheduled to vote in May on whether to repeal its Eighth Amendment, which protects unborn babies’ right to life. If the amendment is overturned, the country could see abortions legalized for almost any reason up to birth.

In a letter hand-delivered to Varadkar on Wednesday just prior to his visit to the White House, 17 pro-life leaders asked him to consider how many women and children have been spared from pain and death because of Irish pro-life laws. They estimated 100,000 children have been saved from abortion in Ireland.

“Taoiseach Varadkar, please don’t let love be defeated,” they wrote. “Please uphold the right to life and the dignity of all persons – both born and unborn – through Ireland’s life-affirming 8th amendment.”

Pointing to Roe v. Wade, they described the devastating effects of legalized abortion on America. Many said the infamous ruling would allow abortions only in certain circumstances – to make abortion “safe, legal and rare” – but instead it “opened the floodgates” to abortion for any reason up to birth, they wrote.

“Since then, millions of women have been negatively affected by abortion, some have even died, and we are missing over 55 million children in America today simply because of a law that was initially said to permit abortion only in certain cases,” they told Varadkar.

They continued:

“Planned Parenthood lawyer Julie Kay called Ireland, ‘The Jewel in the crown of the pro-life movement.’ But Ireland isn’t just a jewel for the pro-life movement, it is a beacon of hope for the entire world. Ireland has become one of the leaders in demonstrating life-affirming laws and medical treatment. This is something to be protected and hailed – not something to be repealed. The 8th amendment should be applauded not repealed. You have the power to continue Ireland’s excellence in life-affirming laws and healthcare. “

Last week, Irish Health Minister Simon Harris released a proposal recommending legalized abortions for any reason up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, according to the Irish Independent. In addition, it would allow abortions up to birth in cases of fatal fetal abnormalities or risks to the mother’s life or health.

The proposal indicates that “physical and mental health risks will be treated the same.” This likely would mean wide “health” exceptions that allow even healthy, viable, late-term unborn babies to be aborted for almost any reason.

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Irish pro-life groups have volunteers knocking on doors across Ireland to save the Eighth Amendment and unborn babies’ lives. They are up against a biased media and huge, illegal donations from American businessmen who are intent on pushing Ireland to adopt abortion on demand.

Americans United for Life President Catherine Glenn Foster implored the prime minister not to make the same mistake that America did.

“Repealing the 8th amendment could lead Ireland in the direction of a Roe v. Wade decision. Since that decision, America has lost more than 55 million unborn lives. We urge Prime Minister Varadkar to preserve Ireland’s reputation as a safe haven for mothers and their unborn children,” she said.

Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, urged him to support life.

“It is devastating to see The Republic of Ireland quickly losing its exemplary culture of life, with Varadkar openly advocating abortion in this country, that until now, has been a light for other nations. We implore him to save the 8th, the life and love-affirming cornerstone of Ireland,” Mancini said.

Top leaders in America’s pro-life movement signed the letter. They were Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund; Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America; Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; Marjorie Dannenfelser and the Honorable Marilyn Musgrave, of the Susan B. Anthony List; Chuck Donovan, president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute; Marie S. Smith, director of the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues; Penny Young Nance, president of Concerned Women for America; Catherine Glenn Foster, president of Americans United for Life; Bob Lalonde and Fr. Frank Pavone, of Priests for Life; David N. O’Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee; Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action; Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International; Paul Coleman, executive director of Alliance Defending Freedom International; Alveda King, of Civil Rights for the Unborn; Janet Morana, executive director of Priests for Life and co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign; and Bryan Kemper, president of Stand True.