Eamon Martin, archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, has spoken out strongly about the encroaching state control of civil liberties on Ireland, highlighted by the decision of the UK Supreme Court to impose exclusion zones outside centres in Northern Ireland that provide or facilitate abortions.
This decision came following the introduction of a Bill in the Republic of Ireland which aims to do the same in the south of the island.
Archbishop Martin stated that these restrictions were “tantamount to enforcing a ban on pro-life activities, including prayer and respectful witness”. He said they were “a disproportionate response with potentially wide implications for freedom of religion and speech” and “will further silence the voice of the innocent unborn”.
