Former Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has said she had an abortion rather than risk disrupting an IRA bombing mission.
She discussed what happened on Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio 1. Anderson, who was 22 years old in 1985 when the abortion took place, was preparing to join an IRA unit operating in England at the time.
She said: “Because of the circumstances I found myself in, I put the struggle first. I had an abortion, the hardest and most painful decision of my life.”
She said she had “lived in silence for over 40 years” and hoped that telling her story “will make some small contribution to stopping the moral and social shaming of women like me.”
Anderson continued: “I respect people’s faith position on this. I’m not looking to convert anyone, or for forgiveness or approval.”
Many women who have experienced abortion and later came to regret their decision would take issue with some of her characterisations of how society deals with the issue. They would argue that what is happening is the increasing normalisation, expansion and facilitation of abortion on a deeply concerning scale. They would point to the reality that prior to an abortion women are not as a matter of course offered any information about alternatives or made aware of the practical, emotional and financial supports available to those who may be open to continuing their pregnancy.
Those who campaign against abortion would also reject Anderson’s suggestion that their focus is on the “social shaming” of women. What drives pro-life people is the fact that abortion involves the ending of an innocent human life. It is never about shaming or denigrating women who opt for abortion.
It is most regrettable that so much of the political focus at present is on expanding the grounds for abortion rather than working together to find ways of reducing Ireland’s alarming abortion numbers.
Martina Anderson is an unapologetic terrorist who prioritised the killing of other human beings often. Therefore her admission she murdered her unborn baby in order to murder more is not particularly shocking although completely pointless and sad as is all taking of human life. Ultimately she has sinned against God as we all have done, and needs to repent and trust Jesus. There is only condemnation – the very thing she hopes her ‘frank’ admission will offset – for her and all others who don’t
A murderer in every sense, seeking self justification for “the Cause”. Absolutely sums her and her diabolical organisation perfectly.
To do the deed is terrible but the lack of repentance is the real tragedy.
Publicly admitting membership of an illegal terrorist org., and joining an active ‘unit’ in the UK are there not consequences for that? Let alone the totally misguided reason for the admission, in the first place.
I wish to thank Martina Anderson for her courage and her honesty. I do not have the courage to admit publicly my many shameful deeds. As a person who claims to be pro-life, I try to practice non-violence in all my relationships and to recognise the sacredness of every human life, born and unborn. I pray that Martina’s public confession bears good fruit.
Martina had already conceived murder in her heart,so the violence against and decision to terminate the unborn child
was easy . All sin is an offence against God, who is Love Mercy and Life . Abortion is human sacrifice to Satan a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies.
Repent, Divine Mercy is unfathomable, God is Great,