Atheist Ireland Forum

Think of a traditional, pious, Irish mammy. She assists the parish, serves at mass, reveres priests etc.. Well this paragon of catholicism has just told her daughter she should have an abortion because her unborn baby has been confirmed positive for Downs Syndrome. She further stated that no help would be forthcoming for "that". She then actually said "you're on your own with your sick baby". How christian of her. What's worse is that the mothers whole family have rowed in behind her (they are all upstanding, respected catholics too).
My friend has been very strong throughout but this knocked her for six. My heart goes out to her and her partner but at the moment seething anger is taking over. I want to shout it from the rooftops....this unbelievable hypocrisy.
I'm of mind that christians/catholics, through their hypocrisy are capable of astonishing cruelty.

harsh very harsh

So true.

And than they dare to claim that religion creates morality....

Surely the mammy is to be commended for this sound advice. I would urge anyone who has a wanted pregnancy to have amniosysthesis carried out to determine that the foetus does not have Downs Syndrome (available in NI) and then make a decision on an abortion if the result is positive.
Advising her that no help will be forthcoming and that she will be on her own is only telling her the hard reality, though I suspect that her family, who obviously care for her, will rally round when the child is born.
This woman may be misdirecting the anger and disappointment she feels at her family and this would be a mistake and one not to be encouraged, in my humble opinion.

Methinks you give the woman too much credit. If she were not a devout catholic who campaigned against abortion then possibly credit due for pointing out the hard choices, but she is, so no commendation due.

I must say that this story is at odds with my experience of the "catholic mammy". The usual response is a patronising "oh they and their kind are so holy, they don't know sin." Of course this would be in the absence of genuine practical help for the parents of the disabled child.