Pastoral letters from the Catholic bishops on the referendum were read at Masses throughout the State. Irish Times reporters attended some of the services.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, told a congregation at Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Saturday evening that the Catholic bishops of Ireland "do not presume to tell you how to vote" in Wednesday's abortion referendum. "But in our honest opinion, taking all the complex issues into account, we genuinely believe that it is best to vote Yes," he said.
March 6th was a very important day for him, he said, as "on the 6th of March \ I was consecrated Archbishop and I said I had come to bring life and not death. I have tried to be faithful to the commitment I gave on that day."
There were two minor interruptions during the Mass. While the Gospel was being read a man in the Cathedral porch shouted: "O'Connell \ knows nothing about a woman's body" and, as the Cardinal read his letter on the referendum, the same man shouted:"Vote No."
After the Mass, Cardinal Connell was asked whether he was optimistic about the outcome of the referendum.
"I don't believe in optimism and I don't believe in pessimism. They are states of emotion and I believe there is a world of difference between hope and optimism. If you are hopeful you pray, if you are optimistic you do nothing," he said.
In his letter to the congregation, Cardinal Connell said that "as your Bishop, I feel that you may wish to know how I myself shall be voting. I shall support the referendum proposal by voting Yes."
As reported in The Irish Times on Saturday, he said the bishops' statement in support of the proposed amendment "has been fully endorsed by the Church authorities in Rome".
Though encouraging people to vote Yes, the bishops were doing so "while respecting your right in conscience to vote against the proposal."
He realised that "many people are very confused about the referendum and are finding it difficult to decide which way to vote". He advised them to read carefully the bishops' statement on the referendum, in the leaflet An Opportunity Not To Be Lost. It was "the unanimous statement" from the 35 Irish Catholic bishops and was issued after "full discussion among ourselves and with the benefit of expert legal, medical and theological advice," he said.
Olivia Kelleher writes from Cork:
The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, has made an appeal to people who are unsure of how to vote in the abortion referendum to read the Irish bishops' leaflet on the issue for guidance.
In a letter read out at Masses in Cork yesterday, Dr Buckley said people should make every effort to exercise their democratic right by voting in the referendum.
"The Catholic bishops of Ireland, while they are not telling you how to vote, are encouraging you to vote Yes next Wednesday as the best option in this particular situation. It is my honest conviction and genuine belief, taking all the issues into account, that it is best to vote Yes."
Éibhir Mulqueen writes from Limerick:
The Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has urged people to build a society which supports women faced with unwanted pregnancies.
In his pastoral letter read out to Mass-goers in his diocese yesterday, he called for a Yes vote but said that whatever way people voted on Wednesday, they had to unite to take on "an even more important challenge" afterwards.
"That challenge is to work towards building a society which really cares for and supports women who are faced with an unwanted pregnancy.
That challenge is to create a society where women will no longer feel compelled to travel to England or elsewhere for an abortion and where those who have made that lonely journey are treated with sensitivity and with healing love," Dr Walsh said.
The Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, in calling for a Yes vote, asked people to use the remaining days before Wednesday to clarify their understanding of the amendment.
In his pastoral letter, he asked people to provide lifts for neighbours who may have difficulty getting to the polling stations.
"It would be very sad if the referendum were to be decided by only a small proportion of those who are entitled to vote. I strongly urge all of you to consider the issues prayerfully and responsibly and to do your best to cast your votes on Wednesday."
He said that while not presuming to tell anyone how to vote, it was his responsibility to indicate that a Yes vote would best protect the right to life of mothers and their unborn babies.
"In other words, the Catholic bishops of Ireland are encouraging you to vote Yes on Wednesday, while respecting your right in conscience to take a different view."
Theresa Judge writes from Galway:
A pastoral letter read at all masses in Galway from Bishop James McLoughlin urged people to go out to vote in the abortion referendum because the matter was "too serious for apathy".
It was a day when people were asked to take a stand on "a significant anti-abortion measure".
Dr McLoughlin said he realised many people were very confused and the public debate may have helped to confuse rather than clarify the issue. Even though the bishops had issued a detailed statement, some people had asked for guidance on how they should vote.
He urged people to read the statement of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, An Opportunity Not To Be Lost.
It was a significant anti abortion measure and a significant improvement on the current unsatisfactory situation. "Catholic voters should feel free in conscience to vote Yes in this referendum. In other words, the Catholic Bishops of Ireland are encouraging you to vote Yes.
"We do not presume to tell you how to vote and we respect your right in conscience to vote against this proposal. In our honest opinion, taking all the complex issues into account, we genuinely believe that it is best to vote Yes," Dr McLoughlin said.
He asked for the coming days to be a time of special prayer for God's guidance.
