The pro-life movement here is practically non-existent, despite the fact that the Irish government want to introduce abortion and the fact that here, at this center in Dublin, a woman can get any anti-life advice and products she desires. At this, Marie Stopes Clinic, the morning after pill, an abortifacient, is available. I talked with six Irish adults who are Latin Mass Catholics, who did not know this. Why? Why are so many Irish in denial as to what is happening right under their noses, and blocks away from their churches?
The Irish problem with pro-life is a three-fold problem. As an American Catholic who has seen pro-life movements in many states and been involved a bit both in England and in the States, I can spot the problems.
One, the laity do not organize themselves here readily. There is no grass-roots political movements. When I lived and worked in Missouri, the pro-life movement, which is strong and vibrant, was organized both at the diocesan level and at the parish levels, by the laity. This is OUR JOB. We are the ones who have babies and families and pass on the pro-life message to the next generation.
To blame the priests is a lame excuse for the lack of political activity. It is shameful for adults to blame their priests for their own lack of activism.
Second, the larger Catholic community here is in denial as to the abortion machine in Ireland and continually blame the European Union for laws or clinics. No, the youth and even the middle-aged Catholic woman wants contraception. I saw this is Malta as well, where the birthrate is 1.2 babies per woman, proving that the 98% of women who claim to be Catholic are not.
In Ireland, there is a myth about the Catholic in the pew, which must be faced if real evangelization is to occur. I can see that Catholics are in denial about the pain about the apostasy, pretending it doesn't matter that their children do not go to Mass, live with their partners and contracept.
Third, and this is most serious, without pointing to any names, or parties, the pro-life movement is too connected to the Republican movement. This must end. I cannot believe that strong pro-lifers blame Great Britain for the secularization of the Irish Republic, thinking wrongly that if all of the island was united, there would be no abortion or contraception. This is false, for the reasons stated above. Republicanism is a disease, which blinds the eyes and hardens the heart. The pro-life movement must be freed from any influences and be international, a universal Catholic movement, joining Catholics and Christians who are pro-life. This is the strength of Truth. In addition, the Catholics are not more holy or more pure than their Protestants brothers and sisters. The secularization and materialism of the younger generations proves this.
God must bring some lay men and women to the fore who are freed from the hatred, yes, hatred of the past and move on in order to have a strong pro-life movement in Ireland.
