Irish Pro-Lifers: 196,000 Lives Saved from Law Protecting Unborn
- Updated Sep 13, 2016
Pro-life advocates in Ireland are praising a law they say has saved as many as 196,000 lives by restricting abortion.
According to The Christian Institute, the pro-life advocates published a report on the thirty-third anniversary of the abortion referendum which led to the Eighth Amendment, restricting abortion, being added to the Irish Constitution.
The amendment says the country will “defend and vindicate” the equal right to life of the unborn child and the mother “as far as practicable.”
The report from the pro-life supporters estimates that 304,000 abortions would have taken place in Ireland between 1994 and 2014 without the amendment. The actual number of abortions during those years amounted to 108,000, thus saving as many as 196,000 lives.
Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign stated regarding the findings of the report, “There are few laws we can say with certainty save lives. The 8th Amendment is one such law.”
“Taking a conservative read of what is contained in the actuarial report, there are tens of thousands of Irish people alive today thanks to the 8th Amendment,” she continued. “It is reasonable to posit that well in excess of 100,000 people owe their life to this Amendment.”
Pro-lifers hope to continue support for the amendment in the face of some opposition and a push to repeal it.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: September 13, 2016
