Pray for Ireland

Sculpture by Timothy P. Schmalz

Disclaimer: The following views are my own and are my opinions.

Today I  pray for Ireland. This country I've only seen once but that has a piece of my heart. This country that has gone through famine and so many wars now faces destruction through the passing to repeal Amendment 8. My heart aches for Ireland. They have no idea what they have done.

A Visibly Catholic Country

When I visited Ireland last October I loved how "Catholic" it was. I loved seeing the statues of Jesus and Mary all over the country. Just when you least expected it, there they were. There were more Catholic churches than I had ever seen in my life. I felt so much at home there. I don't have an Irish bone in my body, but I fell in love with Ireland.

Statue of the Crucifixion, Dingle Peninsula

The Wrong Idea 

I know better than to read comments on Facebook, but I read some very hurtful words. Comments such as "Now we can let go of the Catholic guilt" and "women now have a choice". The UN categorizes abortion as "human rights", but for whom? Certainly not for those babies who are killed. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is quoted by The Washington Post as saying "...no more stigma as the veil of secrecy is lifted and no more isolation as the burden of shame is gone." Really, Prime Minister??? Even though abortion was legalized in the USA in 1973 people don't speak openly about it. It's still very hush-hush and I would say that those women who abort their babies aren't shouting it from the rooftops. They need counseling and I dare to say most never get over killing their babies. I think he's living in a dream world if he thinks that's going to change.

Destruction of the Family

Norma McCorvey (a.k.a. "Jane Roe" in Roe v Wade) eventually became an advocate for Pro-Life. Dr. Kermit Gosnell gave up his right to appeal when on trial: He chose life when there was a chance he could get the death penalty for murdering babies. What irony! Just this year the pro-life organization in my state had a huge victory: legislation was passed to ensure millions of tax dollars is now redirected from a major "national chain" of abortion clinics and will be funneled instead to state-run health departments to be appropriated for family planning programs.
You may be thinking that Ireland is just catching up with the rest of the world. The USA legalized abortion in 1973, and look at us now. We're becoming a nation that doesn't know God, where "Catholic" children don't even know how to make the sign of the cross.  American family structure is in ruins. I can count on 1 hand the number of my students who live with their moms and dads.

So today I pray for Ireland. I pray that whatever happens next is peaceful; Lord knows that country has seen their share of bloodshed. Today the devil is dancing in hell; he won this battle, but with our prayers, he won't win the war.