

A Labour junior minister has warned the Catholic Church not to make “incendiary comments” in the abortion debate.

Labour Minister of State Seán Sherlock was responding to Coadjutor Archbishop Eamonn Martin’s comments that anyone who clearly and publicly said they supported abortion should not approach a priest for Communion.

Archbishop Martin, who will succeed Cardinal Seán Brady, said he had never refused anyone Communion but he asked how could anyone who knowingly introduced abortion legislation receive Communion still believing they were part of the church, in an interview with the Sunday Times .

Mr Sherlock responded by saying: “I find it absolutely and utterly hypocritical when the church has allowed perpetrators of abuse against children to receive Communion.

“The church should carefully consider its position before making incendiary statements of this kind.”



Abortion hearings

Meanwhile, 15 experts will today address the Oireachtas health committee’s ongoing hearings on abortion, including 11 psychiatrists, an oncologist and a cardiologist.

The chairman of the Mental Health Commission and the president of the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation will also speak at the meeting, on the second of three days of hearings on the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.

The main focus of the 10 hours of proceedings today will again be on suicide and its inclusion in the legislation, the heads or general proposals of which form the basis for the discussion. The full legislation will be drafted after the report on the hearings is published and considered and is expected to be debated in the Dáil and Seanad next month.

Experts in adult, child and adolescent and perinatal psychiatry from across the State will give evidence during the four sessions, from 9.30am to 8.45pm. Several previously attended the abortion hearings in January, including perinatal psychiatrists Dr Joanne Fenton, Dr Anthony McCarthy and Dr John Sheehan.

On Friday obstetricians gave evidence and were questioned by TDs and Senators. Legal experts will give testimony tomorrow. The committee decided to confine these hearings to medical and legal experts, and no church or advocacy groups were invited.