In an official statement, the Bishops' Conference expresses "anguish and sorrow" for the "tragic loss of a mother and her baby," as well as "sympathy" for Savita Halappanavar's family. According to the bishops, "The Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother." However, they uphold "the equal right to life of both a mother and her unborn baby" against abortion, which is the "direct and intentional destruction of an unborn baby and is gravely immoral in all circumstances".

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The controversy surrounding the case of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian woman who died from blood poisoning after her request for an abortion was turned down by the Galway University Hospital, continues.

Whilst Irish authorities continue their investigation in what happened, Ms Halappanavar's family has now attacked the Indian government. According her brother, Sanjeev Yalagi, New Delhi has not taken a clear stance on the case, and must set up an independent inquiry.

Meanwhile, the Irish Church has responded to charges of religious fundamentalism and racism made by the woman's husband who said that his wife did not receive the appropriate treatment because she was Indian and Hindu.

For this reason, the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference has issued an official statement on the matter. For the full text, see below.

The death of Mrs Savita Halappanavar and her unborn child in University Hospital Galway on the 28 October last was a devastating personal tragedy for her husband and family. It has stunned our country. We share the anguish and sorrow expressed by so many at the tragic loss of a mother and her baby in these circumstances and we express our sympathy to the family of Mrs Halappanavar and all those affected by these events.

In light of the widespread discussion following the tragic death of Mrs Halappanavar and her unborn baby, we wish to reaffirm some aspects of Catholic moral teaching. These were set out in our recently published Day for Life message on 7 October last, available on www.chooselife2012.ie.

The Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother. By virtue of their common humanity a mother and her unborn baby are both sacred with an equal right to life.

Where a seriously ill pregnant woman needs medical treatment which may put the life of her baby at risk, such treatments are ethically permissible provided every effort has been made to save the life of both the mother and her baby.

Whereas abortion is the direct and intentional destruction of an unborn baby and is gravely immoral in all circumstances, this is different from medical treatments which do not directly and intentionally seek to end the life of the unborn baby. Current law and medical guidelines in Ireland allow nurses and doctors in Irish hospitals to apply this vital distinction in practice while upholding the equal right to life of both a mother and her unborn baby.

Some would claim that the unborn baby is less human or less deserving of life. Advances in genetics and technology make it clear that at fertilisation a new, unique and genetically complete human being comes into existence. From that moment onwards each of us did not grow and develop into a human being, but grew and developed as a human being.

With many other religious and ethical traditions we believe in upholding the equal and inalienable right to life of a mother and her unborn child in our laws and medical practice. This helps to ensure that women and babies receive the highest standard of care and protection during pregnancy. Indeed, international statistics confirm that Ireland, without abortion, remains one of the safest countries in the world in which to be pregnant and to give birth. This is a position that should continue to be cherished and strengthened in the interests of mothers and unborn children in Ireland.

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