Bishop Kevin Doran has accused politicians who voted for abortion of having a “brass neck” to begin Dáil proceedings with a prayer and then vote to end the life of unborn children.

Reacting on Facebook to the passage of the first stage of the legislation, Dr Doran wrote “if you want an actual definition of blasphemy, here is a good one”.

He went on to explain that Oireachtas members begin every sitting with a prayer that asks God to direct their actions so “that every word and work of ours may always begin from thee and by thee be happily ended through Christ Our Lord”.

Prayer

The Bishop of Elphin wrote: “How can they have the brass neck to continue to pray the prayer, when over 100 of them voted for abortion this week, and many others either abstained or didn’t even bother to turn up for the vote? How could that ‘begin from’ God or in him ‘be happily ended’,” Bishop Doran asked rhetorically.

Those who voted against the legislation were Independent TDs Seán Canney, Michael Collins, Michael Fitzmaurice, Peter Fitzpatrick, Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry, Mattie McGrath and Carol Nolan. Marc MacSharry and Éamon Ó Cuív of Fianna Fáil also voted against the legislation while Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín is expected to be disciplined by his party for voting against the legislation.