Before the repeal of the Eighth Amendment there had been assurances that abortion would be a rare occurrence and only when necessary.

We take this opportunity to invite all those affected by abortion - women and men - to avail of spiritual, sacramental and pastoral support, and we assure them that they will be welcomed without judgement and helped to find healing and peace – Council for Life.

We encourage all Catholics – irrespective of how they voted – to devote some time today and over this weekend to prayerful reflection about what has happened in our society, especially in the past year, says Council for Life.

“We are all of God’s same race. Hatred and intolerance that in any way undermine that fundamental unity of human kind are an attack on the God who created us as a single human family.”

“This totally undermines the whole concept of freedom of conscience which was guaranteed in the recent legislation.”