Adding his voice to that of All Ireland Prelate Archbishop Eamon Martin and Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross and, who have issued their own recent statements on the issues of abortion and the threat to the constitutional protection for the unborn, Bishop Neary said: “I invite voters to ask their constituency candidates whether or not they support the sacredness of every human life, and to provide clarification about defending the weak and those who are easy to otherwise dismiss, and whose constitutional protection is now at risk.”

Stressing that “at this time we have a crucial responsibility to our future generations”, the Bishop continues: “Of critical importance in any society is the unique value placed on each human life from the moment of conception to natural death.  If life is not fully respected and protected then the very basis of our society is weakened.  The Eighth Amendment guarantees the right to life of the unborn and the equal right to life of the mother.

“Regrettably, some of those standing for election have declared their intention to work to remove this protection from our Constitution and laws.  This simplistic approach to the most significant of issues is not only an outright attack on the unborn, but an affront to the charter of human rights enshrined in Ireland’s basic law.”

Pointing to the work of the Church’s crisis pregnancy agency CURA, Bishop Neary suggests that “Ireland’s social progress ought to be measured by how effectively we care for the most vulnerable amongst us.

“In this most significant of centenary years it is more pressing than ever “to cherish all the children of the nation equally” whether unborn or born, and irrespective of a child’s health status.”

Bishop Neary’s full statement can be read here.