BY RICHARD DEATON
GUEST OPINION
Ireland and P.E.I. have a number of things in common, including the fact that both have finally joined the 21st century in terms of social policy. Progress has been slow, especially here on P.E.I., but we have finally joined the rest of Canada's provinces in providing abortion services. And we now also provide sex reassignment (transgender) surgery as well. These procedures are provided by modern health care.
RELATED: Some Irish Catholics worried, dismayed after abortion vote
Ireland has made significant progress. Social attitudes have shifted considerably in recent years and are increasingly liberal by traditional standards. In 1995 a referendum was held that allowed divorce for the first time, while a Marriage Equality referendum in 2015 approved same -sex marriage with 62 percent voting in favour.
Ireland, historically a bastion of conservative Catholic Church doctrine, like P.E.I., has used Article 40.3.3 (the so-called Eighth Amendment) of its constitution to deny women abortion services. Last Friday's constitutional referendum repealed the Eighth Amendment, setting the stage for that country to introduce legislation permitting women legal access to abortions. In reality however, over the years 170,000 Irish women have gone to Britain for abortions; annually an estimated 3,500 women have terminations there, while another 2,000 order abortion pills online.
The recent referendum was divisive and bitterly fought between those who favoured Repeal (Yes) of the current constitutional ban on abortion and the No's opposed to repealing the existing prohibition. Slogans like, "Get your rosaries off our ovaries," set the tone. In the week prior to the referendum over 125,000 people registered to vote; some ex-patriots, mostly women, traveled home to vote. The Irish press reported at least one person from P.E.I. voted there.
The referendum was a surprise landslide victory for the Repeal or pro-choice side with an overwhelming 66 percent voting for repeal of the ban on abortion; voter turnout was 64 per cent. The Irish Times exit poll, with its demographic variables, is revealing. Significantly, 70 percent of all woman voted Repeal (pro-choice), as did 65 percent of all men; 70 percent living in cities voted Repeal, as did 60 percent in the conservative rural areas. Fully 85 percent of those under the age of 34 voted to repeal the ban on abortion in the Irish constitution.
The government has already served notice that it will introduce legislation, to be in force by year-end, allowing abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (accounting for 90 percent of all terminations), and longer in other limited circumstances. This would bring Ireland into line with other European countries.
Many parallels can be drawn between Catholic Quebec, Ireland, and P.E.I., regarding the historical role played by the Catholic Church. The recent legislative initiatives in Ireland reflect the Church's waning moral authority and influence, as well as changing social attitudes towards reproductive rights, contraception and family structure. Catholic Quebec now has the greatest number of abortions of any province in Canada, as well as the highest proportion of people living common-law. In Ireland, Church attendance has dropped from 90 to 30 per cent in recent years.
Pope Francis, in a 2016 apostolic letter, gave Catholic priests the power to absolve (forgive) women who terminate a pregnancy, notwithstanding the fact that it is still a “grave sin.” Similarly, divorcees can now receive communion. And Pope Francis recently opined regarding homosexuals that, "God made you that way and loves you this way."
pro-choice referendum victory legalizing abortion in Ireland was overwhelming and decisive. The public policy lesson is clear: people want choice over those issues that affect them personally. Vigorously promoting sex education and contraception in all jurisdictions will hopefully reduce the need for abortions.
- Richard Deaton, PhD., LLB., of Stanley Bridge, taught Military Ethics and Law at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), Kingston, Ont.
