Bishop Kevin Doran urges expanded support for women in crisis as Ireland faces rising abortion rates and renewed political debate.
Newsroom (05/05/2026 Gaudium Press) Amid renewed debate over abortion laws in Ireland, Bishop Kevin Doran has called for new approaches to support women facing crisis pregnancies, warning that current public discourse overlooks the needs and experiences of those directly affected.
Speaking at a Mass in Newman University Church ahead of the March for Life in Dublin, the chair of the Irish Bishops’ Council for Life emphasized the importance of offering “life-affirming support” to women both during pregnancy and after childbirth. His remarks came in response to a recent legislative proposal introduced by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, which seeks to loosen existing restrictions on abortion.
Bishop Doran questioned the motivations behind efforts to expand access to abortion, asking why “a small number of public representatives are so determined” to do so. He posed a stark question about the direction of Irish society: “Does our society have a death wish?”
The annual March for Life this year focused heavily on what organizers described as a sharp rise in abortion numbers since the repeal of the Eighth Amendment in 2018. At the time, government leaders had suggested that abortions would remain rare following the referendum.
Addressing participants before joining the rally, Bishop Doran said a critical question remains largely unexamined in public life: whether women undergoing abortions genuinely want them. “What could we do to help them choose a different path – nobody seems to care about that,” he said.
At the rally on Molesworth Street, Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Eilís Mulroy highlighted what she described as a significant increase in abortion rates. “Since 2018, abortions in Ireland have risen from fewer than 3,000 a year to close to 11,000,” she said, adding, “today one in six babies’ lives ends in abortion in this country.”
The demonstration drew participation from several members of the clergy, including Bishop Phonsie Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore. Speaking separately, he referenced a personal account shared by 1970s rock musician Suzi Quatro, who had expressed regret over a past abortion.
“These are human stories which are multiplied over and over again,” Bishop Cullinan said, describing the march as an opportunity to affirm what participants see as the sanctity of human life.
The debate over abortion in Ireland continues to evolve, with advocates on different sides emphasizing sharply contrasting priorities — from expanding access to reproductive healthcare to increasing support for alternatives to abortion.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from The Tablet
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