What is there to say? It is the most shameful day in Irish history. The scale of the "Yes" vote (two to one) startled everyone.
One pro-choice commentator on Irish TV said: "Ireland is the same place today that it was yesterday."
Yes...but then we did not know how bad things were.
This is a devastating blow, not only for Ireland, but for the pro-life movement all over the world. It is too enormous to even begin to take in just yet. I have no words for it. Not yet.
First of all, we have to do away with the myth that Ireland is (or even was in recent history) a uniquely Catholic country. Ireland has been seen as one of the last battlefields between the Church and secularism for some time now. It's simply not true. The Church in this country has been nothing but a poorly made facade for years.
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened in this country shouldn't dishearten Catholics around the world. This country is a disgrace in terms of its Catholicism. There is nothing to be shocked about. Other Catholics should know this, and not fear as a result of it.
I completely agree Antaine. It becomes rather tiresome that every few years we have headlines about the end of Catholic Ireland. That end came a long time ago and now we just have the legacies of Catholic Ireland disappearing one by one.
DeleteSorry I didn't publish your comment for a while, I had a problem with the comments.
I share your grief. I can see no way back from this point that is not long and slow and hard. But, to put it a little crudely, the 'conquest' of Ireland by the pro-choice movement must mark its approaching zenith. And movements with shallow foundations never last long at their zeniths.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Dominic. I'm taking nothing for granted. The SCALE of the victory was so shocking that it has rather knocked me for six. Also, abortion seems to have become part of the culture in other countries. I think all we can do is soldier on knowing that the story ends happily in the end.
DeleteSorry your comment got lost in limbo for a while, I've stopped getting notifications about comments for some reason.
No problem — the commenting system is a little precarious I find!
DeleteYes, it shocked me too. It is true that abortion seems to have 'become part of the culture' in many countries, but there is a noticeable defensiveness about the pro-choice movement, which gives the impression of being threatened by the slightest expression of pro-life sentiment. That side has all the big artillery, but the thing about artillery is that too great a readiness to use it can be a sign of weakness. Artillery also needs maintenance, and the abortion lobby derives much of its clout from its funds, which may not last forever. I think 'soldiering on' is the right word, yes. No problem — the commenting system is a little precarious I find!
Yes, it shocked me too. It is true that abortion seems to have 'become part of the culture' in many countries, but there is a noticeable defensiveness about the pro-choice movement, which gives the impression of being threatened by the slightest expression of pro-life sentiment. That side has all the big artillery, but the thing about artillery is that too great a readiness to use it can be a sign of weakness. Artillery also needs maintenance, and the abortion lobby derives much of its clout from its funds, which may not last forever.
I think 'soldiering on' is the right word, yes.
I'm devastated too, I hadn't realised how pagan Ireland had got. The size of the Yes vote also surprised me - I was a (reluctant) canvasser for months beforehand and based on that experience, I expected a firm No from the town I canvassed in. The opposite happened. But to me this is a turning point for our country - I get the sense that for many people the result is actually a wake up call,that we can no longer leave defense of life and faith to the few, we all must play our part. I believe that the day some are heralding as the end of Irish Catholicism might actually be the day that marks the start of its revival.
ReplyDeleteYes a huge amount of people told me they were voting No face to face. I don't know if they were just telling me what I wanted to here, or if they changed their mind.
DeleteI hope you are right about the start of the revival. if it is, I think it's going to be a long, hard road. But I have hope, too.