Ireland is Doing Abortion Right

Voters in Ireland passed a bill legalizing abortion by a large margin recently. This in spite of vigorous opposition by Catholic clergy and stuffed-shirt politicians.

Now the Parliament is writing the regulations that will apply. Like in the U.S., anti abortion politicians have tried to write in all kinds of requirements, parents of minors must be notified, the girl/woman must be shown pictures of the fetus and dozens of the same old, same old. These ridiculous requirements were tossed and abortions will be available in January of this coming year.

Ireland remains a lesson on how the future of abortion could and should go forward in the U.S. It started with women being fed up with the treatment they receive from male politicians and clergy. They began a political movement to throw off the hand cuffs men put on them. In big numbers they won. Now, their voices are being heard as the law allowing abortions is being implemented.

One part of the Ireland experience may some day play out in the U.S. Women in Ireland had access to abortions but they had to leave the country to get them. They have been doing so in large numbers. Surely a good portion of the vote to legalize had to do with the futility of pretending abortions were not happening. On top of that, women with money had more access than those without. Only the most loco anti abortion group would think that all made sense. A large majority of voters said it did not.

If Roe were overturned we would see women in states prohibiting abortion traveling to states where it is available. Women with money will have unlimited access. Like in Ireland, eventually this would not make sense abortion would again be legal in all states.

Hats off to Ireland.