Thoughts/suggestions?
15 November 2012
Mr. Michael Lonergan
Consulate General of Ireland
535 Boylston Street
Boston
Massachusetts 02116
Dear Mr. Lonergan,
I am writing to you to voice my concerns with Ireland’s policy towards abortion. As I am sure you are aware, Ireland’s policy towards abortion has become an international news item in the wake of Savita Halappanavar’s death in Galway.
This unfortunate turn of events obviously could have been easily avoided, if not for the preferential treatment the Republic shows towards Roman Catholic dogma and morality. As an Irishman, I understand Ireland’s ties, both cultural and historical, to Catholicism. However, I do not understand Catholicism’s role in informing the laws of what is nominally a secular republic, especially where said laws result in the unnecessary and premature death of a person.
Whether or not Ireland will continue to restrict abortion, it is clear that the policy needs to be revised. If abortion is allowed under the law to preserve the life of the mother, as the law currently allows, then this should not have happened. The law needs to change to allow medical staff to make the appropriate call in a timely manner, and quite frankly I find it troubling anytime a member nation of the European Union is less progressive than even the United States, where religion routinely intrudes on political discourse.
While I am a citizen of Ireland, I was born and raised here in Boston, and never spent enough time in Ireland to legally register to vote, pay taxes, or seek employment. If I had, you could be sure I would also be pursuing those avenues, but as it stands, I am unable to voice my displeasure through voting or contacting specific TDs.
I am sure that you are also aware that there are protests scheduled in Dublin this Saturday. Obviously, it is unlikely that I will be in Dublin to join them. There is also encouragement to protest at Irish embassies. I’ve been to the Consulate before- it would be rather comical, but fairly unproductive, for me to loiter in your office. I would probably have to leave for lunch at some point as well. So, I am left with hand delivering this letter to the Consulate. I hope that you will express my concerns to our government, and I hope that other Irish citizens living in New England will have contacted you on this matter.
Otherwise warm regards,
[Twid's name and address redacted]