Cathal Barry
Discussions between Archbishop Martin and the Sisters of Mercy remain “ongoing” at this point, according to a spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is still seeking clarity from the Sisters of Mercy on the Mater Hospital’s controversial stance on abortion seven months after the Catholic-run institution agreed to comply with the Government’s abortion law.
Discussions between Archbishop Martin and the Sisters of Mercy remain “ongoing” at this point, according to a spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
The board of the Mater announced in September of last year that it would comply with the Government’s abortion legislation which permits the direct targeting of the unborn child in the womb for the first time.
Dr Martin vowed to seek clarity from the nuns after the board of the Catholic hospital’s statement that it “will comply with the law as provided for in the Act”. Hospital authorities refused at the time to give further clarity on the issue or how the issue affects the Catholic ethos of the hospital.
They said: “The Mater Hospital has carefully considered the Act. The Hospital’s priority is to be at the frontier of compassion, concern and clinical care for all our patients. Having regard to that duty, the hospital will comply with the law as provided for in the Act.”
The archbishop’s spokeswoman previously confirmed to The Irish Catholic that he “has met with the Sisters of Mercy and the matter is ongoing”.
While the archbishop has insisted he has no direct governance role in the hospital, he does have a role in Church law to guarantee that Catholic institutions are living up to the teaching of the Church.
The Archdiocese of Dublin also acts as a member of hospital’s parent company, and the archbishop has a nominee on the hospital’s board of directors.
