Gov Welcomes 'Pro Lisbon' Statement By Bishops

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has welcomed a statement from the state's bishops denying the that the Lisbon Treaty would impinge on Ireland's abortion laws.

Lending the support of the church to the Treaty, Ireland's Standing Committee of the Irish Bishop's Conference said in a statement: "We wish to make it clear that a Catholic can, in good conscience, vote Yes or No."

However, the statement is being interpreted as resoundingly in favour of the treaty, with the bishops also condemned "misleading, incorrect [and] irrelevant" material in reference to leaflets left by No campaigners in a number of churches claiming a Yes vote could result in abortion and euthanasia being introduced in Ireland.

The statement said such material "has no place in church buildings or grounds".

Government Minister Michael Martin welcomed the statement saying: "The Treaty of Lisbon does not undermine existing legal protections in Ireland for unborn children.”

Mr Martin also repeated the condemnation of those introducing "misleading, incorrect or irrelevant elements in to the debate" and added that "any material which misinforms voters in an interference with the exercise of a fundamental right and has no place in church buildings or grounds."

Mr Martin said: "This statement marks a final and comprehensive rebuttal to those who have attempted to promote an anti-EU agenda through the misuse of issues important to people of faith."

Despite their interpreted support, the bishops did strike one cautionary note, saying that while the very nature of the EU called for a pooling of sovereignty in specific areas, this could not be allowed to weaken the intrinsic principle of "subsidiarity".

Subsidiarity is the principle whereby the EU does not take action unless it is more effective than action at national, regional or local level in a member state.

(DW/BMcC)