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As Ireland votes to repeal the Eighth Amendment, SPUC CEO John Smeaton sends this message to supporters.
Dear SPUC supporter,
I write to you with a heavy heart and sorrowful tears in my eyes as I read the final result of the abortion referendum in Ireland: 66.4%, Yes, 33.6% No - two to one in favour of repealing the 8th Amendment. Today unborn Irish children have been stripped of their dignity and protections by a huge majority of the adult voting population. This is a mark of shame for every Irish voter who, with knowledge of what has happened elsewhere, has chosen to dishonour new human life and the place of the child in his or her mother's womb.
The Yes campaign, which wanted to repeal the 8th Amendment, is celebrating as I write this to you. Tragically, it won’t be long before we see the depth of the change this vote has brought about. We will see the loss of countless lives of Irish babies killed before birth, while countless mothers mourn their babies, often in silence.
Today’s result will also place new pressure on pro-life politicians and campaigners in Northern Ireland, who have until now successfully resisted liberalising legislation at Stormont and the imposition of the 1967 Abortion Act from Westminster. In the wake of the vote in the Republic the abortion lobby is already calling for the Northern Ireland’s pro-life laws to be overturned. We will be working with good pro-life politicians in Northern Ireland to fight tooth and nail in defence of unborn children and their mothers.
During the months and weeks leading up to this sad day, SPUC played its part in the campaign in Ireland to protect life. In conjunction with other pro-life groups, SPUC ran two major “spiritual crusades” of prayer and fasting and distributed more than 60,000 leaflets across Ireland. Two major speaking tours, addressed by prominent pro-life leaders, brought the pro-life message to hundreds of people.
But let me tell you, all this will not have been in vain. We will not give in to feelings of despair. SPUC will be continuing its work in Ireland. We will renew our efforts and explore every possibility to bring protection to unborn babies in Ireland.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you who prayed and supported the work of SPUC in Ireland.
John Smeaton
Read SPUC's press release.