The Church in Ireland celebrated the Day for Life on Sunday.
This pastoral letter of the Irish episcopal conference, titled "Blessed Is the Fruit of Your Womb," highlights the sacredness of human life at all stages.
"The Church believes that every life has been created by God in his own image and likeness and that all life is sacred from the moment of conception to the point of natural death," the pastoral letter explains.
The bishops continue: "The Church opposes abortion because it is the taking of an innocent human life," while adding that "to be pro-life means to promote human dignity and development in every sphere of life: to say 'yes' to life."
"The Church is opposed to all direct attacks against innocent human life," say the bishops, "because it believes that every life has purpose, meaning and inherent value."
This year's letter was translated to Polish due to the large number of Poles living and working in Ireland.
ZE07100803 - 2007-10-08