Pro Life Campaign says Red C abortion Poll ‘highly contradictory’ but welcomes support for constitutional amendment limiting X case

News Release

1st December 2012

Pro Life Campaign says Red C abortion Poll ‘highly contradictory’ but welcomes support for constitutional amendment limiting X case

Responding to the Red C poll on abortion to be published in tomorrow’s Sunday Business Post, the Pro Life Campaign said the answers to the different questions are highly contradictory, and show the very high level of public confusion on the issue mainly to do with the distinction between necessary medical interventions in pregnancy and abortion. The poll reveals that 85% support legislation for the X case, while 63% support a Constitutional amendment limiting the X ruling.

Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said:

“We welcome the high level of support for a Constitutional amendment to limit the X case. It is very apparent, however, from the findings overall, that there is huge confusion about the distinction between necessary medical treatments in pregnancy and abortion.

“The Minister for Health and other senior figures in Government bear much of the responsibility for this confusion. For example, they have abjectly failed to highlight the fact that abortion has never been shown to benefit women with mental health problems, indeed on the contrary, peer-reviewed studies show it places some women at greater risk. Given the misunderstandings that have been allowed to fester, it is not at all surprising that the findings appear so contradictory.

“In the coming weeks, as the debate continues, we are confident it will become clear that legislation for the X case would not in fact be restrictive but would involve wide-ranging abortion.”

See this and more on Pro Life Campaign website www.prolifecampaign.ie