Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Repeal the 8th

891 replies

SnowWhitesRestingBitchFace · 10/04/2018 20:30

So DH and I are currently visiting my DF and DStepM in Southern Ireland (where I grew up).

Just answered the door to a couple who are looking for support in the referendum and wanted us to pledge that we would vote no.

No for context I am just 6 weeks away from giving birth to DC3 (so clearly very heavily pregnant) and they still had the audacity to argue with me when I said I didn't agree with them and I supported any woman's right to decide what happens to her body.

They started trying to show me pictures of 10 week old babies in the womb (not necessary obviously in the circumstances) and weren't pleased that I didn't agree with them given that I'm carrying a baby myself.

I'm sorry I don't really have an actual AIBU I just wanted to rant a bit and show support for the people who have to face this absolute shit every day until the referendum. We're going home to the UK on Thursday so I won't have it all thrown in my face anymore but I just think the guilt tripping is horrendous 😞

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Trinity66 · 11/04/2018 11:39

Yes. I've noticed that. As I said, DH is from Cork. I still think (and stats agree) that Ireland as a whole is much more religious than most developed countries.

I'm from Cork myself Grin I agree that Ireland still has a ways to go to release that grip from the church but I really do think we're getting there and I hope I can come back here on May 26th and say "look, i told you so!"

You seem really angry about the whole thing.

Oh religion does 100%, the atrocities it has inflicted on this country are still coming out and all that exposure has helped people see the church for what they are and is why the Church is losing people in droves. I am proud of how far we as a country have come since when i was a teeanger to now at 39 years of age, in that short space of time I've seen huge changes, massive ones and am hopeful this will continue with a Yes vote on may 25th

I haven't called you backwards or a liar but as a society, Ireland is too entwined in religion and it is backwards

It was and still has a hold no doubt but even the fact that there is going to be a referendum surely tells you that the country has changed and is changing?

*Misogyny.

I think Greer was wrong when she said that men hate women. The church though, they fucking despise us.*

That answers why you think Abortion will not go through but not why gay marriage went through?

DownWithThatSortofTing · 11/04/2018 11:42

I haven't called you backwards or a liar but as a society, Ireland is too entwined in religion and it is backwards

You have called us backwards. Ireland is the people, if the people are backwards and we are those people, who else are you calling backwards?

The nerve of someone from NI living...in England? telling Irish people living in Ireland what Ireland is like!

Astella22 · 11/04/2018 12:25

I'm Irish, originally from a little village but living in Dublin now. Just a few points Ive noticed, 1)Most people who I talk to in Dublin are pro choice but down at home its not really talked about and when I bring it up I get the usual crap about it being such a "personal matter for the individual" what a load of rubbish, maybe its a personal matter for the poor lady going through the trauma of an unwanted pregnancy but who cares what some 60+ year old thinks who will NEVER have to face the choice. 2)Allot of young men are voting no apparently there is "no need for an abortion" and people should not have unprotected sex, very convenient that in Ireland child maintenance is very hard to enforce so of course its very easy to say your pro life if the situation will never effect you.

Also I've heard that the pro life side are making a note of address of the pro choice votes and removing them from the voting register so anyone who has had these people to the door should double check they are still listed. www.checktheregister.ie

I recently had a miscarriage and its been extremely upsetting to see pictures splashed around the city on poles of aborted fetus at 9-10 weeks. First time I saw it I cried for the whole day. A new one today said if you agree that its wrong to "murder" a baby at 6 months then vote no. Thankfully on facebook there is an opt out for anything referencing the 8th, its just been too upsetting for me after the miscarriage to see it all unfortunately I cant opt out of life and have to walk by these offensive posters on a daily basis.

Trinity66 · 11/04/2018 12:31

Also I've heard that the pro life side are making a note of address of the pro choice votes and removing them from the voting register so anyone who has had these people to the door should double check they are still listed

How can someone else remove you from the register? Shock and surely that's illegal

Eenymeeny123 · 11/04/2018 12:48

I have had no One to the door or even any leaflets dropped in. I read yesterday that a pro life group displayed graphic posters outside a sweet shop and a playground down in Cobh. The guards were called and removed them. I really think this will be a very close referendum. You have the yes side and the no side but there is a lot in the middle. The whole abortion on demand part of this debate is all that people are seeing. They don't seem to be looking into the full meaning of the 8th and it's impacts. People want to allow abortion for specific circumstances but the whole on demand makes a lot feel uncomfortable. They see it as being asked to vote on ending a life for no reason. I just wish that those who are undecided would go to the in my shoes and see the impact has had on thousands of women lives.
I hope it passes but won't be shocked if it's not.

crunchtime · 11/04/2018 13:10

The difference between the 8th and the gay marriage referendum is that the gay marriage one would benefit men. Pure and simple.
The 8th will only benefit women therefore much easier to say no for lots of people.

Corcra · 11/04/2018 13:11

"I agree that in Ireland the church and state are still far too entwined but I really disagree that it's socially unacceptable to be an atheist! "
One hundred percent.. I'm more agnostic but living rural.. and our kids are opted out of religion as are many in their class. Nobody cares.

TheVeryThing · 11/04/2018 13:23

I'm involved in the yes campaign locally (in a very small way), and think it will be extremely close. It's impossible to predict how any individual will vote.
We have had young women with tears in their eyes come up to our stand in the street, hug us and say thank you.
It's very hard to talk about publicly and I haven't even told my parents that I am campaigning.
Totally disagree that it's socially unacceptable to be atheist in Ireland. We opted out of first communion and the school didn't bat an eyelid.

RedPanda2 · 11/04/2018 13:38

They're not pro-life, they're pro-birth.
They don't care what happens to the mother or baby after birth, as long as it is born. Disgusting people.

Original poster
SnowWhitesRestingBitchFace · 11/04/2018 13:42

@Astella22 in regards to the maintenance issue I completely agree. When I wanted to move to the UK to be with close family/go back to education my oldest DS's father took me to court to stop me taking him.

He was useless, worse then useless. Lived 5 minutes up the road and couldn't be bothered to get out of bed most days to see him.

It was mentioned in court that he had never paid any maintenance (ds was 4 at this point) and the judge actually turned around and said it was my own fault because I'd never specifically 'asked' for it.

So here was a man who was so desperate for a relationship with the child he could hardly be bothered with but the fact he'd completely neglected the financial side (as well as every other side) of parenthood was completely irrelevant when it came to assessing his character.

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 11/04/2018 13:53

Please, has anyone got a link to what is proposed to replace it?

CupofFrothyCoffee · 11/04/2018 14:59

More than 40% of Irish people go to church once a week

They do in their hole. Look at any church on a Sunday, a handful of auld wans and fuck all else

Grin Funny and true.

squoosh · 11/04/2018 15:11

There's no way 40% of Irish people go to mass weekly. Yes in the 90s, but not now. The last time I was at an ordinary mass (one that wasn’t a hatch, match, or dispatch) the pretty sparse congregation was made up of the over 70s, and a fair few Filipinos. It’s the Polish and Filipino migrants who are keeping the numbers up for the under 40s!

HughLauriesStubble · 11/04/2018 15:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StripySocksAndDocs · 11/04/2018 15:49

and 1 in 5 babies aborted in evil GB (seriously???)
Yes, I referenced that poster up-thread.

Is that statistic even true?

StripySocksAndDocs · 11/04/2018 15:50

More than 40% of Irish people go to church once a week.
Hmm. Not even sure 40% of church goers go once a week.

HughLauriesStubble · 11/04/2018 15:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StripySocksAndDocs · 11/04/2018 15:59

Think I've found a WHO stat (reported by BBC)

It's estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies world-wide are terminated. With the start being a bit lower in the richer counties.

Also "Researchers point out that abortion rates were similar across countries - regardless of whether terminations are legal or not."

So whatever the stats are in Evil England they chances are they are similar here from the sound of it.

Doryismyname · 11/04/2018 16:01

There's no way 40% of Irish people go to mass weekly. Yes in the 90s, but not now.

I agree. None of my friends or family go to mass or take their DCs unless it’s for a specific occasion. They’ve all had their DCs baptised and they will make their Holy Communion but because it’s the done thing nothing to do with religion. In fact I am pretty sure that mass attendance is far higher in the UK due to the link with school admissions. Catholic priests in the UK have far more clout than the ones back home.

Blackbirdblue30 · 11/04/2018 16:02

I got a mouthful of abuse from an old bag regarding my repeal badge. We know that the older generation come out and vote in droves. And they are the brainwashed by the church generation. I think it's going to be tight. I know there is a 'home to vote' campaign going on but I think the date for students in the middle of exams was tactical.

crunchtime · 11/04/2018 16:03

right in 2016 there were 696,271 live births in england and wales.
There were 190,406 abortions carried out in England and Wales in 2016.

You can't work out a percentage from that though can you?

StripySocksAndDocs · 11/04/2018 16:04

It's not even evil GB is it. It's specifically England. Because that were all the Bad People live. I don't think that the stats are ever separated between England and Wales (Scotish stats would be seperated). So whoever put together that poster took a guess at the stats and is geographically unsure.

Trinity66 · 11/04/2018 16:04

I know there is a 'home to vote' campaign going on but I think the date for students in the middle of exams was tactical.

Eventhough the government are backing the Yes vote?

StripySocksAndDocs · 11/04/2018 16:07

No you can't crunchtime. It's something like 18 abortions per 1,000 residental (pregnant or not) women.

StripySocksAndDocs · 11/04/2018 16:09

Here's the link the the BBC article about the world;

www.google.ie/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/health-36266873