Dublin, Ireland, Jul 7, 2011 / 06:22 am (CNA).- Thousands of people attended a large pro-life rally in Dublin to oppose attempts to force abortion on Ireland by changing its laws.

Organizers said the July 2 “All Ireland Rally for Life” was “hugely successful” and serves as a warning to the political party Fine Gael that the Labour Party’s plans to legalize abortion in Ireland are “unacceptable to the majority of Irish people.”

Speakers called on Irish prime minister Enda Kenny to keep his promise that his party would be opposed to the legalization of abortion, according to rally co-sponsor Youth Defence.

The European Court of Human Rights in December ruled that Ireland’s abortion ban breached the rights of a woman who had to leave the country in order to procure an abortion. Fine Gael has set up an expert group to examine the judgment.

The “rush” by Ireland’s Labour Party to call for abortion legislation after the ruling hurt their  performance in the 2011 elections, Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute told the crowd.

She said that pro-lifers will not accept a review committee that is “stacked against the unborn child” or ignores “the evidence that clearly shows that abortion is never medically necessary.”

Carolyn Johnston of Youth Defence said Irish pro-lifers demand that the government “listen to the pro-life majority who say ‘Yes to Life’ and ‘No to abortion.’”

“Enda Kenny needs to tell the European Court not to interfere in the right of the sovereign people to decide Ireland’s pro-life laws,” Johnston said.  Continue reading…

I really do think that we are winning the war on abortion. We have,however, miles to go before we win the other culture war battles.

The Church is losing the battle to define marriage between one man and one woman. But all things are possible in Christ. And since the right to life is foundational, we have reason for our hope.