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POLICE SEIZED ABORTION pills and two robots that were used to give the medicine to campaigners at a demonstration in Belfast.
Demonstrators from a number of groups including the campaign group Rosa – which played a role in the recent Eighth Amendment campaign – attended the event outside a courthouse in Belfast.
The demonstration saw an “abortion robot” – controlled remotely from the Netherlands – deliver abortion pills to women present. The pills are illegal to take in Northern Ireland if a woman is pregnant.
The robot is controlled remotely so that it avoids breaking the law in Northern Ireland, campaigners said.
Police confirmed they seized two small robots along with a number of pills, which were surrendered voluntarily, during the demonstration outside Laganside Court this afternoon.
Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley said
Officers recorded footage of the demonstration, the details of a number of participants and have spoken with one of the event organisers. We will be reviewing the footage to determine whether any offences have been committed, but as we are now investigating this matter, we will not be commenting further.
There was a strong police and media presence reported at the event.
Abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland except in very rare circumstances where the life of a woman is at risk or there is a serious risk to her health.
Growing pressure
Pressure has been growing in Northern Ireland from campaigners to liberalise the nation’s abortion laws, following Ireland voting overwhelmingly to repeal the Eighth Amendment last week.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has come under pressure on foot of the referendum to introduce legislation to make abortion legal in the North. Northern Ireland’s legislation on abortion is separate to British and Irish law.
Speaking at the event today, Rosa spokesperson Eleanor Crossey Malone said that women in Northern Ireland were taking abortion pills “every single day”.
“As long as we don’t talk about it, as long as we act as though it is a secret, politicians aren’t under pressure to legislate on this issue.
But we’re bringing this issue into the spotlight in order to demand that politicians take action on this immediately.
After the demonstration, campaigners planned to drive the “abortion bus” around Northern Ireland to offer counselling and ultrasounds to women.
Solidarity-PBP TD Ruth Coppinger was also supporting the campaign.
“I’m very happy now to be supporting today’s action, which builds on that work,” she said.
These acts of civil disobedience supplied pregnant people with safe but illegal abortion pills, but they were also instrumental in shifting the debate on abortion.
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@ author. We call it mass here in this country.
@Ian Moloney: not just Catholics in this country.
@Paul Fahey: mass is mass
@Carol Anne Carr: in Catholicism yes, but as I have said, not everyone in Ireland is a Catholic. I am pleased to tell you the demographic is changing.
@Ian Moloney: majority are Catholic still but a bit of change is no harm
@Paul Fahey: Religion eh lol what a joke full stop.
@Paul Fahey: mass is mass. Loads balls.
@Paul Fahey: Muslims go on Friday.
@Ian Moloney: and there are more than just Muslims and Catholics in Ireland. Anyway, you will find many Muslims attend daily, but don’t let facts get in the way of your agenda.
@Carol Anne Carr: mass is mass, service is service, eucharist is eucharist, meeting is meeting, prayers are prayers. Your point?
@Paul Fahey: who’s saying otherwise ?
A mass of morons.
@Paul Fahey: there you have it. If you attended your church more often, your faith would be stronger.
@Paul Fahey:
Protestants are Catholic but Roman Catholics aren’t Protestant!!
Nice to see all the religions celebrating the Pagan festivals – next thing they will be changing the birth of Jesus to December (instead of July) to try to piggyback on the Winter Solstice festivities!!
@Paul Fahey: 78% describe themselves as Catholic in the last census. Looks like there’s a bit to go yet.
@Carol Anne Carr: only in science is mass is mass. What people around the world need is hope. Without hope you have nothing. Let’s keep religion which on the death beds of most become hope regardless of their religious beliefs. Look around you world leaders Enda Kenny, Kin , Trump, Putin, May, Merkle they all got elected promising people they would deliver on their hope. But unlike people dying wish for hope these world leaders destroyed the expectation of the masses when they got elected. But the masses think another election will give them hope.
Religion all about hope but guided by pray. Without hope we have nothing and without pray we have no potential to hope.
@Tom Burke: Yeah, all those babies and infants who filled out their census forms are staunch Catholics, LOL!
Only I’d you’re Catholic. I would go to church if I could but I wasn’t asked.
@Paul Fahey: thank you Mohammid.
@Scorpionvenomm: what a compelling argument against religion
@Free comment ratings: Majority my ass, most just leave it on the Census but are Birth, Marriage, Funeral “catholics” at this stage.
@Ian Moloney: In the US it is called Mass shooting lol. In Holland it is called a mass orgy?
How do you know if someone is an atheist? They’ll be the first to comment on a journal article about religion.
@John: How do you know when someone is a theist? When they open their mouth their first word is baaaa.
@John: So, If you challenge the story of Christianity and point out its weaknesses, You’re an Atheist or Pagan etc. and you Christians are very secure about this folk tale.
@John fair play. I agree with your comments. Let people challenge Catholics or religion all they want. Those people challenging are usually the people with no faith of any kind. Religious beliefs have become somewhat of a target for people in recent times.
@Donnacha Bhoicaire: Absurd fantasies and fairytales from judgemental hypocrites do tend to attract the type of scrutiny/attention they’d rather not have, Donnacha.
@oldschoolcelt: your belief is your belief. The difference being I’ll respect it and not come on here and disrespect you for it.
@Donnacha Bhoicaire: you are entitled to believe what you want, but when your beliefs are absurd, like resurrection from the dead and wine turning into blood when a priest utters some hocus pocus over it, then I am perfectly entitled to mock those beliefs.
@Jimmyjoe Wallace: that is on you Jimmyjoe if you want to mock and belittle people. I can’t stop you.
@John: Makes a welcome change from ‘They’ll be the ones we’re burning at the stake in the town square’ doesn’t it?
@oldschoolcelt:
I commend you for your description of Christ and Christianity on the same level as fiction and fantasies but it means you haven’t the heart of a poet and poetry which frames joyful/sorrowful experiences in a language that is easily ignored or misunderstood. The Irish are naturally good poets so although the rush out the door of Churches may be sad but somewhat deserved, our people can’t escape inspiration and spirituality that is part and parcel of our nature.
The genuine Christian not only understands Christ at their own level but also according to the talents they have, some need only to visit Church once a week as part of their routine while those who are inspirational, creative and productive require reminders that there are dark passages in people’s lives.
Denominational Christianity makes an easy target but due to historical decisions it made it presently robbed the Christian texts of their poetic content where the individual and Universal meet and appreciation of the greater life that encompasses our journey through own own lives.
@Donnacha Bhoicaire: Except don’t criticise Islam. Doing so will brand you a “racist” by the intolerant Left or targeted for worse by some extremists.
@Bernard: Muslims and Christians are the same to me. As are scientologists. They are all the same to most atheists.
@Grainne Abdulaziz: It would but I seriously can’t remember anyone ever saying that. Am I leading a sheltered life where there’s no one getting burned in town squares? Lol.
@Jimmyjoe Wallace: do you mock everyone that believes in something ? Why woukd you think it’s ok to belittle a person ?
I would hope most atheists feel differently about people choosing the follow a religion like Christianity or Islam and people being encouraged to pay vast amounts of money before they can even learn what beliefs they are being asked to follow, then finding it very different to leave if they find those beliefs are not to their liking. You may believe Christianity or Islam is silly, but anybody who agrees with you is free to leave. Well, in some cases there may be pressure from family members, but that can be true of the G.A.A. or a political party or just about anything. The organisation itself won’t stop you.
If somebody actually believes that somebody choosing to believe something different from them is the same as somebody being encouraged to (or even forced to) cut off connections with anybody outside the group and then being put under pressure not to leave if they lose interest, then it sounds as if they are more concerned with being right than they are with freedom of choice.
@Donnacha Bhoicaire: I’m mocking the belief not the person, you can believe in the tooth fairy if you like, that’s your prerogative.
@Suzie Sunshine: where did I belittle anyone?
@Bernard: islam is just as stupid.
@Jimmyjoe Wallace: you’re entitled to mock what you like but it’s a bit sad really that you feel the need to.
@Stephen murphy: Religion all religion is about consideration and given all the comments on this subject religion is alive and kicking. Happy Easter enjoy the chocolate eggs and go for a walk and admire the creation of the simple thing in life , trees, flowers, birds singing, fresh air. Then have a cup of tea and enjoy yourself. Life is for living .
@Jimmyjoe Wallace: well it is my prerogative and by mocking that belief you are mocking me.
@Tom Burke: I don’t feel the need to at all I was responding to a post. Am I not entitled to express my opinion now?
@Gerald Kelleher: again well said….
@Stephen murphy: yes Stephen very secure. Thank God.
Nope.
BTW, “Easter” comes from Sumerian “Ishtar”, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism
“The Sumerian goddess Inanna, or Ishtar, was hung naked on a stake, and was subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld. One of the oldest resurrection myths is Egyptian Horus. Born on 25 December, Horus and his damaged eye became symbols of life and rebirth. Mithras was born on what we now call Christmas day, and his followers celebrated the spring equinox. Even as late as the 4th century AD, the sol invictus, associated with Mithras, was the last great pagan cult the church had to overcome. Dionysus was a divine child, resurrected by his grandmother. Dionysus also brought his mum, Semele, back to life.”
@Rosa Parks: Also “…..Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. …..” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism
@Rosa Parks: no it doesnt. This sort of neopagan american folk etymology has no foundation in science. The English word Easter comes from Eostre, an English deity. The word most other Indo- European languages (including irish) use for easter comes from Pesach, passover.
@Rosa Parks: Jesus were they Catholic s the lad with the bad eye?
@Rosa Parks: You’re wrong on that one Rosa. Why would an English translation of Pascha (taken from Passover and used by the early Christians and still used) look to ancient Sumeria for a word. This makes no etymological sense.
@KalEll: because Christianity originated in the Middle East
@Rosa Parks: can you explain then why no language between palestine and ENGLAND uses any word that sounds remotely like ishtar to describe easter?
@H0tt3rBank3r: actually, Rosa’s remarks are correct… the pagan roots of Easter are well documented. Todays Easter is nothing more than lies to sell cards and chocolates… now off to mass with ya… and prey to the great god hallmark!
@Rosa Parks: Ah I see. Well then they might as well have called it falafel for all the link the word has to early Christianity as practiced in the Middle East
@Rosa Parks: not just a pretty face Rosa, tell us more…..
@GameOverMan: quote “easter comes from Sumerian ishtar”: BS. Easter comes from Eostre. Bad science does not help a cause. Yes the celebration of easter, christmas, all saints, st johns night, passover, eid ul fitr, yom kippur, nevruz have pagan roots and are nowadays exploited by chocolate, card, food and drinks manufacturers. Thats not the point. No mass for me today or any day. Too busy insisting on rational, evidence backed, knowledge. And it’s pray, not prey.
If you have faith is not living in God’s creation not a religious celebration in itself? Only professing belief for a few hours a day or a week is no true profession of faith imnsho.
@Damocles: Catholicism defined right there. If one believes, man is saved through faith in Jesus alone, that he died for our sins. You can’t find favour with God by chanting Hail Marys or ticking a box by attending mass.
@Bernard: He died for our sins, meaning he couldn’t save himself and he wasn’t the Son of God. He was a Human, like us all and a Buddhist Lama who became enlightened.
@Stephen murphy: actually he did not in fact die, faked it with heavy breathing….apparently…..
@Rachel Didleu: you are correct, The Stone Roses were there and wrote their most famous psalm “I Am The Resurrection” as a sworn affidavit, true story, which has been verified by talking snakes and donkeys.
@Stephen murphy: Stephen more plausible. But my point is Jesus had teachings which organised religion – Catholicism in particular – seem to disregard. The Catholic Church is the very epitome of the thing Jesus rebelled against.
@Bernard:
@Damocles has solved a problem for me that I think about regularly during religious festival times because I know lot of very very good catholics and protestants but some are definitely very very bad christians.
@Stephen murphy: We are all sons of God.
When someone gets some bad medical prognosis – a cloud on an x-ray or whatever, it’s a bleak time. We are all asked to pray for them, and you know what, sometimes it works! It’s awesome, God moves in mysterious ways, we are joyous.
The thing is, never in history has someone with an amputated limb has that limb been restored, no matter how much praying is done..
I guess that the only conclusion is that God hates amputees :(
@Buzz Cauldron: no prayer only works when it’s coincidence. Nothing more.
@Buzz Cauldron: The worst thing is when they tell the sick they are praying for them and there is no responsibility taken for the upset caused if the person gets sicker. And moreover a truly good God as Jesus said will do the right thing whether somebody prays for you or not. People need to learn acceptance of what they cannot change and battle to change what they can instead of this irresponsible superstition.
This poll kinda contradicts the census.
@William Grogan: how? Maybe the journal has less catholics reading it? I have mass at 11 and I expect a big ground always good to see everyone
@William Grogan: the poll doesnt ask about religion only whether you are attending a service. You can be catholic and religious and still not be attending a service today.
Online polls are not scientific. The census covered the entire country; this only covers people who read the Journal and choose to answer. An online poll is just for fun; it doesn’t prove anything.
It also only asks about today. The Easter Vigil, which is probably the most popular Easter service was yesterday. I would expect nearly half of those attending Easter Mass to have gone last night. Some of those who did probably said “yes” here, but some also probably said “no.”
The question should have been,did you attend a religious service for Easter as the Easter Vigil Mass is celebrated at various times on Saturday evening depending where you live.Furthermore many people who do attend Mass do not have Twitter Accounts so what is the point of these polls.
@Aine O Connor: they can use Facebook…..?!?!
@Liam Byrne: I should have said social media accounts.
@Aine O Connor: exactly. I reckon the person who published the poll is not aware of the tradition of the Easter vigil.
@Aine O Connor: Are you really making excuses for the low Yes vote?
@Aine O Connor: actually older people do use social media. Quite a lot now.
@Aine O Connor: can we do a pill asking: Do you give a sh*t if people other than you went to religious service this Easter.
@Rob Cahill:
And I am one of them
@oilscalp:
Exactly why the poll is useless
@Eamonn Sheen:
No I am not but the way the question is asked is supposed to reflect a representative group of the population and As an older person I know that that most people Of my era do not use social media.And as everyone knows it is mainly older people who attend Mass.
@oilscalp:
The Journal is the one running the poll so ask them
@Aine O Connor: You do not need a social media account to place your vote here. You only need it to make comments. And wider + more scientific polls put the regular mass going population at about 30%
@Alan Lawlor:
A practicing Catholic is for every day not just a half an hour on a Sunday.
The average age of those attending religious services these days tells you all you need to know about how sustainable all these huge churches we have are. They’ll make good bars and music venues in the future. Its already happening.
@oldschoolcelt: your comment smacks of delight
@oldschoolcelt: Indeed, the only good thing about churches is the acoustics, high ceililngs make for excellent sound, pity they’ve been wasted with robotic chanting and bellowing judgement from the pulpit for so long.
@Grainne Abdulaziz: unlike the mosques where they yodel.
@Frank Brennan: Never been in a mosque so wouldn’t know, which one do you attend?
The problem lies not with the word God. Many believe there has to be something greater than humanity, be that an unknown or known entity and pray to it in times of need. The problem lies with the evilness of churches who have used the word God to control, abuse and butcher countless millions of innocent men, women and children.
My God is my God not any churches God.
@Martin Murphy: yeah an American woman told me the same thing. She said she didn’t follow any organised religion at all. But she had a personal relationship with God… and Jesus Christ!!!!. I like to think she was joking but I know she was not.
Sit, kneel, sit, stand, sit, stand, drone, Letter from the Cannelonians, kneel, drone, baah, baaaah, stand, shake hands, eat dead man’s body, drone, kneel, sit, stand, leave.
@Grainne Abdulaz i wonder if they had to pay anything like a euro a go for their letters. And St Paul could have kept An Post afloat all on his ownio.
@pZTahAXy: They would have brought the internet down if they’d had it back then!
@Grainne Abdulaziz: I don’t like mass but say for instance you meditate…people can just slag it by saying: Sit, Breathe, Leave. So your analysis misses a few vital points about what people feel when they attend something. I dont like U2 so people that go to those concerts: Stand, listen, jump, stand, sway, leave. People that play sport: run around a field after a piece of leather filled with air… You get the point…you can strip the essence from anything and make it seem irrational.
An audience with the Pope. Don’t worry they repeat those shows all the time.
Go to mass ye Pagans.
@Bennythekid: ‘get up for mass’ the dreaded words from the mouths of Catholic mammies all over Ireland
Yes. Begrudgingly
@Guill Ire: be yourself then, sheep.
They removed the comment about female self pleasure, yet they keep the one about the guy satisfying his other half. What the duce?
@Muiris O’Daltuin: Now they’ve removed Satisfy guys comment and I’ve nothing left to complain about. This site sucks :)
How can 66% say no and yet we apparently have a 73% majority catholic country…
@Liam Byrne: The rest are at mass?
@Liam Byrne: Because the Census asks, What religion is on your Cert and you answer Catholic. Because, you’ll get fined or imprisoned for lying and most people today are too educated to believe that nonsense anymore.
@Liam Byrne: you don’t have to go to mass to be a Catholic? Also the journal demographic could be different. I marked on the census I was Catholic, it’s nice to keep my roots.
@Liam Byrne: because the journal commentariat is notvremotely representative of the people of Ireland.
@Stephen murphy:
“Because the Census asks, What religion is on your Cert”
The census doesn’t ask this. The question was fine – idiots just answered it wrong.
@Free comment ratings: so you don’t believe in the Catholic God but you’re a Catholic. This is about 70% of the country folks. That leaves 8% either insane or not intelligent enough to tell fact from fiction.
@Rob Cahill: I would rather be on the safe side.
Online polls are not scientific. It is possible that more atheists than religious people read the journal. Also people can vote twice on different computers.
Also, this just says “today.” The Easter Vigil is probably the most popular Easter service and that was yesterday. I would say about half of those who attend Easter Masses attend the Vigil. Some of those probably said yes, taking it as meaning a Mass for today, but others may have said no.
@Free comment ratings: safe side of what? Choosing one God over thousands of others?? Surely that’s worse.
@Free comment ratings: ah, good old Pascal’s Wager-better to pretend to believe in a deity that isn’t there than risk not believing in one that is there. Do you not think an omniscient god might see through your ruse?
As I don’t attend all year today makes no difference. I don’t believe in publicly and ceremonially doffing my hat to an archaic,corrupt and vile white male dominated institution.Besides the dates are all wrong just like the birthday which is more likely January.
Anyhows tv isn’t that bad today and it’ll be priority number one for me.
Interesting poll, I’d definitely believe that there is some kind of “force” or “power” but would not go down the “Religion” route as in my view religions are all means or ways of “controlling” large masses (excuse the pun) of people through faith and practically no evidence, this would apply to every religion I am aware of.
However I admit that I do love religious holidays, I am only human afterall.
Happy Easter to all !!!!!
Might do. On the other hand my mum’s not great today and it’s spilling rain might just watch it on telly. A day for contemplation either way.
I’m going to a Republican commemoration. No prayers!
Do what makes you happy as long as it doesn’t hurt others
@Jason O Neill: Thats BDSM out the windown then lol.
If hes up there and I need a word ill do it where I please
I’m gonna wash my feee
*feet
@Conor Mc Lysaght: Please hurry, the smell is awful and crucifying my nose.
@Conor Mc Lysaght: Could be fe…cal matter from your beard?
http://nypost.com/2015/05/04/science-proves-that-beards-contain-fecal-matter/
I ARRIVED ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE GREAT CELEBRATION BEGAN BEGIAN TO MAKE SURE THAT I WOULD GET A PLACE TO SIT DOWN. I AM GLAD I ARRIVED AT THIS TIME AS THE CATHEDRAL WAS SOON FULL TO CAPACITY.
THE RELIGIOUS SERVICE OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST LASTED ABOUT 2 AND HALF HOURS. IT WAS EXTREMELY JOYOUS, THE CHOIR SANG BEAUTIFULLY. TO DAY, EASTER SUNDAY, IS A GREAT DAY. FOR CATHOLICS AND ALL CHRISTIANS WE CELEBRATE OUR FUTURE WITH CHRIST IN HEAVEN, FOR THOSE WHO REPENT AND DO NOT DIE IN MORTAL SIN, FOR ALL ETERNITY.
WHAT A JOYOUS CHURCH , IE CATHOLIC, WE REALLY HAVE.
THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT DAYS FOR ALL CHRISTIANS ARE GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY.
THE POLL QUESTION SHOULD HAVE READ SOMETHING LIKE: WILL YOU BE ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES ON GOOD FRIDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY, INCLUDING EASTER SUNDAY?
WISHING ALL A VERY HOLY AND HAPPY EASTER.
To be a good Christian/human being one simply needs to be kind to others, treat
People as you would like to be treated and if you have nothing good to say then say nothing, beliefs are for the individual however the institution of the Church today is far removed from reality.
@robert lester: It’s far removed from reality alright, it promotes belief in superstition and sky fairys
67% say no so far on this poll, yet 78% declare themselves Catholic on the last census. Interesting…
@Tom the Bomb:
Cmon Tom, this is the Journal, a cesspit of secularism, hangout central for every disgruntled atheist from here to Tipperary.
Religion depends on what part of the world you are born in ,If we were in Saudi Arabia we would be able to ask questions about Islam and Mohammad , ? well maybe not ,
Just as society and politics would condone murders of the past so does religion. It is alarming that these three entities can celebrate death and murder and not even bat an eyelid. Take Ireland. There is no problem celebrating and applauding the example of those who drove the 1916 rising. At Easter Vigil, the Catholics praise a reading that says God killed the Egyptians. Calling that reading the word of God is praise. But they do more than that. They sing the praises. The story is that Moses leads Israel through a miraculous dry path through the sea. Instead of closing the sea behind them and keeping the soldiers out God lets Israel get over and the soldiers are half-way across when the water crashes in on them as a result of God empowering Moses to raise his hand and magically signal the water to drown them and then a psalm praising this miraculous mass murder is sung. That is retrospective religious genocide and retrospective sectarianism. Young men and who were compelled into the army by law or circumstance and who did not want to kill anybody were brutally drowned. To add insult to injury, Catholics then receive the body of Jesus who claimed to be this murdering God. Obviously they think they are too special to get such treatment from this God who is unworthy of worship. They don’t care that he killed people as long as it is not them. It is a worry that believers in a really sweet God struggle to get and keep followers while a darker God attracts people better even if they pretend they do not notice or believe in a dark side. Catholics pretend except maybe at the Easter Vigil! Every religion’s scriptures speak approvingly of murder when commanded by God or a god. If the members are nevertheless told to be good then they are doing it because they are told and that is a weak reason. Real goodness rejects authorities that ever condoned or commanded murder and does good not because you are told to but because it is good.
Society and politics have a bad side in reality and a potentially bad one as well. Nobody denies that. But religion is no better. It is so like them and so inspired by them and they refuse to challenge or be upset by religion condoning such evil as we have read about as long as it was done ages ago that it is clear that society, politics and religion are made from the same bad fabric. It is an insult to a God if there is one to call it divine.
It’ll be ‘ Ube eat Orbi’ again. He eats him every year.
@Mairtín: yeah the subtitles for the hearing impaired on RTE are chronic today worse than ever. Are they sending them in from an iPhone or something. “Pen I Tens” and “for those pray to war” tch I’ve seen better on the Journal comments but only there.
Does the Angelus count?
“Watched mass online for the day that’s in it, does that count? Great message, who wouldn’t want to be raised from dead on a Sunday morning!
@H0tt3rBank3r: mass is mass
Seany deleted the sexual comments on a religious article. LOLs
ALLAHU AKBAR
Wanted to get a comment in re: Fintrax Two, Pope Francis shares therein, new contract with South Korea, war and Jesuits, lilies and roses but it would probably never pass the censor
We should have a poll on the journal about what religion we are I don’t think the census did it’s job properly
Ah sure look,it’s all absolutely mental.
@muiris lighten up buddy its only a yoke !
If you see me in church it means you are looking out the window. I’ve asked two popes to excommunicate me, but they won’t hear of it.
have your say