Calls For Nuns To Explain Role In New National Maternity Hospital
There are calls on the Sisters of Charity to clearly explain what role they will play in the new National Maternity Hospital at St Vincent's.
The Association for Improvements in Maternity Services (AIMS) Ireland say thousands of women have expressed their concerns about the facility being owned by the religious order.
Chairperson of AIMS Ireland Krysia Lynch says it's time for the Sisters of Charity to clarify their involvement in the new facility.
"Women certainly don't feel assured at all by what's coming out of the board and they really want answers from the Sisters of Charity.
They say women need to know whether abortions, IVF and sterilisations would be permitted by the sisters in the new national maternity hospital.
"We're really calling on them to tell us, one way or the other ... and come out and say what will they and will they not permit on land that is owned by them" says Krysia.
"The women of Ireland ... they absolutely do not want to find that their bodies are being controlled by religious ethos and at present that is 100% not guaranteed".
The St Vincent’s Hospital Group has said it will allow all legal procedures, but the Sisters of Charity have yet to confirm whether that will be the case.
The doctor appointed by the HSE to plan the new 300 million euro facility – Doctor Chris Fitzpatrick has also quit the board of Holles street today.
He disagreed with the Sisters of Charity owning the hospital, echoing the same concerns Doctor Peter Boylan expressed when he resigned yesterday.