Baroness Nuala O’Loan. “How can Ireland call itself a civilised society today?” Baroness Nuala O’Loan has asked, echoing the words of Pope Leo in his address to the Spanish Parliament this week. The Pope asked what future can our societies have if life ceases to be recognised as a fundamental value, and if a community leaves in the shadows the unborn child, the elderly, the sick.
Reacting to the speech, Nuala O’Loan, who is a member of the British House of Lords, told this paper: “Having fought the introduction of assisted suicide and the decriminalisation of abortion this year, and having lost the abortion battle, it is wonderful to see Pope Leo speak so forcefully in defence of the dignity of human life: ‘If life ceases to be recognised as a fundamental value, what future can our societies have?’ There were 10,852 abortions in Ireland in 2024 and 108 babies in Ireland suffered ‘an early neonatal death’ between 2019 and 2023 having been born alive after abortion. The Pope is right. How can Ireland call itself a civilised society today?” she said.
Senator Rónán Mullen told The Irish Catholic that “Pope Leo’s speech to the Spanish Cortes sets out a comprehensive Catholic social vision – challenging political and civil leaders on all sides of politics to honour and respect human dignity in all circumstances.”