Vote was earthquake in Irish law and society
Earlier this year the Irish Times reported the result of the abortion referendum with the headline: "Ireland votes to remove constitutional ban on abortion by resounding two-thirds majority". This was a fake news headline.
It echoed political reporter Sarah Bardon's opening: "The country has voted to remove the constitutional ban on abortion by a two-thirds majority." More fake news.
The Constitution never contained a "ban on abortion". So the people did not, and could not have voted to "remove" it. Someone in the Irish Times must have known that.
A truthful report would have said that the majority voted to deny to all unborn children their natural right to life. Here was the real, shocking news.
They voted to remove from the Constitution all recognition of this right to life. But they also went much further.
They authorised politicians to make whatever laws they may choose allowing the killing of unborn children rejected by their mothers, up to the time of birth.
In effect, voters denied that any human being begins life with a natural or God-given right to life. This needs to be recognised as an earthquake in Irish law and society.
Natural right
If human beings do not have a natural right to life, by virtue of the fact that they are human, can they acquire such a right later on? If yes, then when and how do they acquire it?
If no, then must we say that no human being has a natural right to life? Have voters denied to all people the most fundamental human right?
In which case, may a majority of voters authorise politicians to legalise the killing of Jews, drug dealers, immigrants, disabled people?
With no natural right to life, on what, if any, grounds might such groups defend themselves against a majority?
Putting it frankly, Irish voters seem to have changed our Constitution to permit practices which even the Nazis tried to hide. If this is not the case then someone needs to explain to us why not.
A special set of questions arises for Christian politicians and voters who recognise God as the Creator and protector of life.
If human beings enjoy a natural, God-given right to life may politicians scorn God's plan and legalise the killing of unborn children? By what authority may they disregard God's commandments?
Can a majority of voters give anyone the authority to permit the killing of the weakest and most innocent, rejected human beings? Not in Christian thinking.
Rebellion
That Irish voters attempted such an obscene evil was an extraordinary act of arrogance and a direct rebellion against God and his law.
Neither the State nor the Church can continue on as if this earthquake didn't happen.
A modern liberal democracy attempts to marry majority rule with individual rights, demands and choices. This is a delicate balancing act, and hard to sustain.
Disregard for majority rule leads to chaos in society. Indeed modern societies are becoming so fragmented that majority rule in many countries - Germany, France, Italy, England - is becoming almost impossible.
On the other hand, disregard for fundamental human rights gives excessive power to a majority, leading to a form of tyranny. Which is what we now have in Ireland.
Political scientists have long recognised that liberal democracy, democracy without natural law, can easily lead to tyranny. In Ireland this has become a reality.
Having campaigned vigorously and deceitfully for the legalised killing of the unborn, the media, and especially the Irish Times, are now trying to hide the horror of what voters did.
We cannot allow them to get away with this cover-up. The truth must be told, and kept before us, if we are ever to have a return to justice.
It echoed political reporter Sarah Bardon's opening: "The country has voted to remove the constitutional ban on abortion by a two-thirds majority." More fake news.
The Constitution never contained a "ban on abortion". So the people did not, and could not have voted to "remove" it. Someone in the Irish Times must have known that.
A truthful report would have said that the majority voted to deny to all unborn children their natural right to life. Here was the real, shocking news.
They voted to remove from the Constitution all recognition of this right to life. But they also went much further.
They authorised politicians to make whatever laws they may choose allowing the killing of unborn children rejected by their mothers, up to the time of birth.
In effect, voters denied that any human being begins life with a natural or God-given right to life. This needs to be recognised as an earthquake in Irish law and society.
Natural right
If human beings do not have a natural right to life, by virtue of the fact that they are human, can they acquire such a right later on? If yes, then when and how do they acquire it?
If no, then must we say that no human being has a natural right to life? Have voters denied to all people the most fundamental human right?
In which case, may a majority of voters authorise politicians to legalise the killing of Jews, drug dealers, immigrants, disabled people?
With no natural right to life, on what, if any, grounds might such groups defend themselves against a majority?
Putting it frankly, Irish voters seem to have changed our Constitution to permit practices which even the Nazis tried to hide. If this is not the case then someone needs to explain to us why not.
A special set of questions arises for Christian politicians and voters who recognise God as the Creator and protector of life.
If human beings enjoy a natural, God-given right to life may politicians scorn God's plan and legalise the killing of unborn children? By what authority may they disregard God's commandments?
Can a majority of voters give anyone the authority to permit the killing of the weakest and most innocent, rejected human beings? Not in Christian thinking.
Rebellion
That Irish voters attempted such an obscene evil was an extraordinary act of arrogance and a direct rebellion against God and his law.
Neither the State nor the Church can continue on as if this earthquake didn't happen.
A modern liberal democracy attempts to marry majority rule with individual rights, demands and choices. This is a delicate balancing act, and hard to sustain.
Disregard for majority rule leads to chaos in society. Indeed modern societies are becoming so fragmented that majority rule in many countries - Germany, France, Italy, England - is becoming almost impossible.
On the other hand, disregard for fundamental human rights gives excessive power to a majority, leading to a form of tyranny. Which is what we now have in Ireland.
Political scientists have long recognised that liberal democracy, democracy without natural law, can easily lead to tyranny. In Ireland this has become a reality.
Having campaigned vigorously and deceitfully for the legalised killing of the unborn, the media, and especially the Irish Times, are now trying to hide the horror of what voters did.
We cannot allow them to get away with this cover-up. The truth must be told, and kept before us, if we are ever to have a return to justice.