By Sarah Mac Donald - 08 July, 2013
‘Let the People Vote’ was the major theme of Saturday’s pro life rally in Dublin which saw up to 50,000 people back calls for the Government to hold a referendum on abortion under Article 27 of the Constitution.
The ‘All Ireland Rally for Life’ was organised by groups such as the Life Institute, Precious Life and Youth Defence. Just a couple of hundred pro choice protestors turned out to oppose the rally.
Libertas founder, Declan Ganley, urged Senators and TDs to use the power granted to them under Article 27 to let the people speak on the bill.
“Let us vote. Let us pass judgement on Enda Kenny’s abortion bill in a referendum. He says his book is the constitution. Well use it, Taoiseach. He says he trusts the people. Well prove it, Taoiseach. He says this is a matter of grave concern to the public. Well ask them, Taoiseach,” the businessman said.
Ahead of the rally, which began in Parnell Square and snaked all the way to Leinster House on Kildare Street, Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute warned that the rally was “not just about abortion, it’s about democracy and letting the people decide on this hugely important issue.”
Referring to the findings of the recent Amárach poll, she said it showed that 86% of people supported the right of the people to decide on the issue by referendum. “If Enda Kenny feels that he has the support of the people for the legislation then what is he afraid of? He should let the people vote,” she said.
While the rally had a carnival-like feel to it, the speeches outside Leinster House were hard-hitting and focused on the consequences for Fine Gael if the Protection of Life During Pregnancy bill is made law without any consultation of the people.
Addressing the massive crowd, Declan Ganley reminded the Taoiseach that the Fine Gael party had broken it promise on human life.
The major coalition party was warned that “a new political alternative” would emerge if the right of the people to vote was denied on this issue.
Challenging the Taoiseach, Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute told the crowd, “If you refuse, Taoiseach, to let the people vote, then the people will be heard. 100,000 people have already signed the pro-life pledge, 100,000 will seek to build a new political alternative, 100,000 will remember Taoiseach, that if you ram through this law, you are the abortion Taoiseach and Fine Gael is the abortion party, and they will seek an alternative which protects both mother and baby.”
Fine Gael, she said, had now awoken a sleeping giant, that would work night and day to build an alternative to political parties who broke their promises and betrayed their principles.
Recounting his own personal experience, Declan Ganley recalled how when he and his wife were expecting one of their four children, they were told that the baby had ‘abnormalities’ and were advised to have an abortion by a doctor in New York.
However, the couple said no and today “that child is healthy and happy and one of the four greatest gifts our family has ever been given,” he said.
The rally was also addressed by Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life who said that the measure would impact on the whole island of Ireland and was out of step with the majority of people in Northern Ireland.
“The All Party Pro-Life Group from Stormont is represented here today, since this is a matter for All-Ireland, as we stand together against abortion,” she said.
Tracy Harkin recounted how “almost seven years ago my husband Tom and I were told our baby girl Kathleen Rose was diagnosed with a condition called trisomy 13, a condition sometimes described as being ‘incompatible with life’.”
“Well, Kathleen Rose is with us here today. She is not incompatible with life: she is the love of our lives.”
Before the rally on Saturday, Archbishops Diarmuid and Eamon Martin celebrated Mass in St Saviour’s Church in Dominick Street.
In his homily, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said the Church would continue to “teach about the dignity of each human life and how the direct and wilful destruction of human life is never acceptable.”
He told the packed church that being pro life was not about a slogan or a mantra but about respecting every human life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death and at every moment in-between.
By Sarah Mac Donald
