Contraception Action Programme (0112 Covrractrrion Now
Socialist Republic1978Women's liberationChurch, state and civil libertiesTrade unions and workers' strugglesThe Southern state and its partiesWomen's liberationChurch, state and civil libertiesTrade unions and workers' strugglesThe Southern state and its parties
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No restrictive legisation on Contraception.
traception in Dublin South East on the 24th May.
mme and the S.L.P..
THE BISHOPS On the 4th of April Catholic Bishops made a major statement cr Contraceptive laws. The media have presented this as an increasing Liberalisation begause they heve graciously accepted that the state no longer has to follow their dictates in freming laws. In fact this is sheer dishonesty and hypocricy by the bishops. The constant pressure being maintained by them is quite clearly designed to influence the forthcoming legislation. Their pgsition must be seen for the reachionary one that it is.
They say: "the present. legal situation regarding contracept ives is indeed unsatisfactory. Contraceptives can now be imported without legal restriction. They can now be obtained in many places by young unmarricd people: They are in favour of "some mirinum amending legislation} which they say"would bring about a better situation than we now have: Its clear from this that they want the strictest possible controls placed on the distribution of contraceptives and especially a law making them available only to married couples.
Minister for Health Haughey has nothing to say about the bishops campaign. His silencs demonstrates clearly that the Government is not prepared to confront the Catholic hierarchy on the issue.
A RIGHT EOR ALL A law making contraceptives available only to married couples would have the most reactionary effects.. In effect it would be an 1 ultimatum to all unmarried people especially the youth of the country. They would either have to live their lives according to the rigid moral ecde established by the bishops or suffer all the social ills of illegitimacy backstreet abortions and women left abandoned to bring up children.
By its very nature such legislation would produce a situation whereoy the distribution cf contracectives even to married people woulc. be limited.
‘As shown from countries in the past it would be impossible to operate and would put severe psychological pressure on' women to prove that they are merried.
The passing of such a law would have effects in areas well cutside the immediate. issue cf contraception.:-It would meen that the Cathcli: hierarchy maintained maintained a dominant position in the 2€ county state.
It would heve the effect of entvenching some of the most reactionary view prevelent in Ireland on sexvalicy and pertiSUBSCRIPTIONS See addresses on page eight. This was the call made from the platform of a public me.ting on ConThe meeting was one of a number of different activities organised in Dublin in the past few months by the Contraception Action Progra The following article deals with aspects of the proposed legislation and suggests ways in which a national campaign against any restriction in the distribution of contraceptives can be built.
cularly Female sexuality. The official view would depict sex not as a nevurel relationship between people but as a rigidly controled meathod of producing children. This would entrench the idea of women as mainly child bearers without the right to an independent life, ,and would weaken the fight for womens rights te control their fertility. It would strengthen the laws discriminating ageinst women and confirming their secondry position in society and push back the fight for equal pay and equal opportunities.
NATIONAL. CAMPAIGN If we are to succeed in pre. vembing the introduction of restrictive legislation a national campaign against any such measures and for contraception for all who seek it must be built now.
### Ihe Contraception Action
Programme has the ability of drawing together large numbers of people from wouens, politica] and trade union organisations, as well as people outside.
Support should be sought from as many as possible, and tr ensure that.the:- resolutions passed by tradeunion vodies and others are put into oractice in a real way. C.A.P should send a deputation to visit such bodies. The Labour Party, the ICTU, the SLP and end exreutive committees of all the unions, and all. organisatd -ions who are pledged on paper to fighting for contraception facilities to be availeble to all who seek them must be approached for financial, political, and organisational support.
This is a vital requirement to building a mass national campaign. C.A.P. should alsc call for a national. demonstration and rally in September or early autumn before the bill is to be intrcduced in the Dail.
Propaganda through leaflets, stickers, posters etc is important. We shovld siso discuss ways of giving the campaign a feminist dimension and bring Women attending the C.A.P. public meeting in Ballyfermot neighborhood centre