Running a political party is no easy job. Especially if that party is republican: you probably remember the old joke about the first item on a republican agenda always being The Split. To function a political party needs to hold together, vote together – get the benefits of unity of action in the Assembly/Dail. But that doesn’t apply to every situation. One of these is the matter of abortion.
You no doubt have your own views on abortion. You may believe that abortion is the destruction of a human being before that human being has even been allowed to see the light of day. Or you may believe that abortion does not involve a human being and so there can be no question of the destruction of a human being; what needs dealt with is simply a collection of tissue. Whichever view you take, you’ll almost certainly know that people on either side hold their views with passion, since they believe the whole matter involves the most basic of human matters: life and death, or the right of a woman to have control over her own body.
Since there are so many people who feel totally committed to their point of view, and since this involves basic human rights, I can’t think of another issue where it would be as important that people are given the opportunity to follow their conscience . Even and maybe especially in the political arena it is important that individuals are not pressured into acting against what they believe is right in a matter of such central human importance.
That’s why I hope that people like Peadar Toibin, who are opposed on grounds of conscience to abortion legislation, are able to vote as their conscience dictates. At the moment, Sinn Féin appears to be headed towards whipping in those who have doubts about voting in favour of such legislation in the Dail. I can understand the party’s terror of splintering – something which in the past has bedevilled the movement. But in this instance, to try to pressure people who are opposed to this legislation to vote in favour of it would be counter-productive.
Republican unity is the source of great political strength. But sometimes flexibility is a demonstration of even greater strength. There are times when the whips should be set aside. This is one of them.
The point is that if you wish to be a member of any organisation/political party then you accept that you publicly support party policy. I have been a member of SF for 31 years and publicly support SF’s position on abortion. However, personally, I believe it is up to a woman to choose what to do with her own body and to decide for herself her reproductive choices. I have argued, and will continue to argue this, at Ard Fheisenna until SF accepts this as policy, if it ever does!
By continuing to be a member of SF Peadar Toibin accepts that, publicly, he needs to support SF’s current policy on abortion, as I have had to do for the past 31 years, despite my personal beliefs around abortion.
I agree Jude, abortion is most definitely a matter of personal opinion. Have you ever noticed how people who oppose abortion are very often in favour of capital punishment and people who favour abortion are often against the death penalty? Not always of course and I suspect that you, like me, are opposed to them both. Of course if Sinn Fein were vehemently against abortion the Unionists would be crying about interference from Rome, the fact that fundamental Bible thumpers are setting the agenda for the same Unionists is hardly ever mentioned. Apologies for not putting the fada in `Fein`, I really must learn how to type it. Mind you, the Irish News never puts it in although they probably have their own reason.
Thanks, AJ – to solve your fada problem: hold down the Alt key as you strike the key for the letter you wish fada-ed (makey-up word). Now, can you tell me how to get the damned ‘Tweet’ button to stop being grey and become blue and LET ME DO A TWEET??
SF does not support abortion on demand as their opponents like to portray.They support it when the womans life is at risk. I often wonder what those who take an absolutist position would do if their wife or partner was facing death and only an abortion would save her.
SF’s abortion policy, since 1999, is the following (to aid those who might mis-interpret it):
Sinn Féin believes that full information and non-directive pregnancy counselling embodying all choices should be freely available. Sinn Féin is opposed to the attitudes and forces in society which compel women to have abortions and criminalise those who do make this decision. The party accepts the need for abortion where a woman’s life or mental health is at risk or in grave danger and in cases of rape and sexual abuse.
Daisy
I see the motion for a free vote on abortion was defeated.
Were you in favour of it?
No, I did not support that motion.
Daisy
Are there no issues where party members should be allowed to vote according to their conscience? Must they always take the whip?
Abortion votes in Westminster, for example, are usually free votes I believe.
I don’t believe so, if you’re a party member. That’s the whole point of having a policy-making conference such as the Ard Fheis, where, if you disagree with something and can persuade your cumann to support you, you can debate it. If people find it difficult to ‘abide’ by party policies you can still be a SF supporter without being a party member. I would argue it’s better to be a member and try and persuade your party comrades to support your particular issue!
Daisy
Thank you for the reply.
I take the point about supporting the party once the policy is agreed.
Yet I would think it an indication of good sense in a party, any party, to allow that some issues should be a matter of personal conscience.
Can I ask what the younger generation within the party make of the hesitant line on abortion rights?
I would imagine it must be frustrating to stick to that unsatisfactory line between the religious rejection of any abortion and the modern republican belief in women’s rights.
It seems to me that Sinn Fein are trying to walk a tightrope there.
Gio -don’t you think you’re making an assumption that anyone opposed to abortion must be doing so for religious reasons? You don’t have to be a member of any faith group to have views on the foetus.
Jude
I would say it is usually those with strong religious views who are opposed to abortion, yes. However I am happy to change that to include those who object on other grounds. My point remains that it is a difficult line to walk for a modern republican party.
Many women like Daisy (assuming Daisy to be a woman) must find it frustrating.
First of all Jude I, Daisy, am a 64 year old woman!..retired teacher…member of SF for 31 years and a political activist for about 42 years….
yes, you’re right about SF walking a tightrope on moral issues…because we’re a party of people from many different backgrounds, religions, beliefs, moral beliefs, ages etc etc…and that, for me, is the very positive aspect of the party and its members. There are many people within the party for example, who are pro-choice, yet, at the moment, (sadly as far as I’m personally concerned), we do not have a pro-choice policy.
As for the young party members..they, like the older party members, have mixed views….so, as far as I’m concerned, it’s gradually opening people’s minds/attitudes to alternative possibilities that is important. I always argue that noone has to have an abortion, or believe it is OK for a woman to have an abortion….but simply accept that it is up to the woman to make that choice, for or against. For me, it is very simple…it is my choice and nobody else’s! And I am very lucky I’ve never had to make that difficult choice..I have 3 chosen children and 3 chosen grandchildren….
Thanks Daisy – persuasive argument indeed. The one drawback with pro-choice, as I see it, is that it works fine for pro-choice people. For those who believe the foetus is a human being, legalised abortion becomes…well, you can probably work out the rest yourself. Thanks again for the detailed and thoughtful response
Eurofree3.wordpress,com provides a historical background to the issue of abortion “Abortion on demand now” and an explanation of what illegal abortions meant to women. These are facts that should be borne in mind when considering the issue.
Also the post “The way we were – single mums” shows how the problem of extra-marital sex was created and solved by setting up an adoption business. These facts should also be borne in mind when arguing the abortion issue – as it not altogether clear how far anti-abortionist stance is dictated by this type of thinking.
Personally speaking I believe contraception should be easily available to prevent unwanted pregnancies but if they occur it’s up to the woman herself to decide.Nobody can force a woman to have an abortion if she doesn’t want one, BY the same token no one should be able to force a woman to carry an unwanted child or pay hundreds if not thousands of euros to have an abortion in the UKor another European country.
Neither Church nor State should have a role in deciding what a woman does with her own body.
Thanks for the fada advice Jude, you are a gentleman. Unfortunately I do not know anything about tweeting, hopefully some good Samaritan will help you as you helped me Now all I have to do is pass on your info to the Irish News printers.. Sinn Féin…..Sinn Féin…..Sinn Féin.