THE CENTRE CANNOT HOLD The Irish abortion referendum result was predictable, but nonetheless I was surprised that Ireland showed such a strong cultural shift away from the Catholic Church’s long-standing and unflinching teaching. So where should a Christian stand in this matter ? Yes, there are complex moral issues involved, such as: · Just when does a foetus become a human person ? · Is it right that we only give a new human being legal rights from the moment of birth ? · Does a woman have an absolute right over the life of the foetus she carries ? · Is she answerable for conceiving when she knew she did not want a child ? · Does the father have any rights in the matter? · And what about duties in respect of parents and the community ? The matter is complex to say the least, and few seem to be aware of the taproot that has fed, and still feeds the divergence between the Catholic Church’s teaching and the pop