A section of the attendance at the DVD launch on Thursday night in Letterkenny.
The Bishop of Derry has told a
Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown was among those who attended the meeting which was used to launch the group's video, Keep The Eighth. Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian sent his apologies as he was out of the country.
"This is a campaign that can be won. We have to begin this campaign with confidence,” Bishop McKeown said.
“This is an important time when the battle can be won or the battle can be lost.”
The bishop said the campaign is not just about a law. “This is about saying the people of Ireland love life in all its shapes and forms. We have to make Ireland believe that keeping the Eighth is an act of love."
Guest speakers at the
Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life also said the campaign can be won. "This is a battle we can win. Do you believe we can win this battle? I really believe it."
"We are called for sacrifice. We are called for this time." She said the main ingredient needed in the battle was prayer.
“We need to be led into this battle with the holy scriptures and the power of prayer. We need to be led into this by the church."
"SOUL OF OUR COUNTRY"
She said the abortion issue was for "the very soul of our country”.
“We cannot allow this to happen, we must rise up with the great faith that God has given us." She said “demonic forces wanted to unleash abortion” and bring "child sacrifice and child murder into Ireland".
She said she is
"The Irish people know better what is best for them and their country," she said. Maria Ui Chorcoráin of Yes To Life said the group is trying to reach every single person in Donegal before the referendum.
She said generally most people don't want to see abortion in Ireland, and while they think they know of cases where it should happen, they don't want to see abortion in demand. "I think it is a fight we can win," she said.
She said fewer and fewer people are going abroad every year. The argument that it should be allowed here as it is allowed somewhere does not stand up, she said. She also called for people to join the canvassing team against the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. "We need more people to do this."
The 50-minute video was funded by church-gate collections throughout the county and will be shown throughout Donegal in the coming days.
The group says the video is suitable for viewing by secondary school pupils with the exception of three graphic images of aborted fetuses at the end.
A board at the back of the room facing away from the public contained images of fetuses from abortions at eight, ten and 22 weeks.
Mary T Sweeney, a member of Donegal
Chair of
She said both the hospitals in Letterkenny and Sligo have been designated as abortion
She said the Citizens’ Assembly had voted for
"
She told the meeting that the group will require additional support and volunteers for its campaign.
Rev Mark Loughridge of New Life Fellowship challenged people not to accept the ‘manufactured’ consensus given by much of the media that the country is for repeal, but to get out and voice their opinion to friends, family, and colleagues so that a true consensus can be reached.
The group also announced a date for canvassing training and said it will be holding five more meetings to show the video in the county.
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