Catherine Wiley, from Co. Mayo, is the founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association
“As Catholic grandparents, we love our grandchildren – those who are born and those waiting to be born. We believe it is only fair that they, like us, should be given their chance at life, however short or fragile it may be.
“We instinctively understand the challenges that face our daughters and our sons as parents because we have lived similar challenges in our own lives. The lasting happiness of our own children is of the utmost importance to us and we will do all that we can to support them in their own role as parents. There is no sacrifice that a loving grandparent will not make for their child or their grandchild. Family always comes first.
“We appreciate that abortion may sometimes seem to offer an immediate solution to a difficult situation. Quite apart from what it would do to our grandchildren, however, we cannot see how it could ever serve the lasting happiness of our children.
“We’re living in unprecedented times with constantly changing social and moral values. Our contribution to the family, the Church and society was never as important. Sometimes we feel like we are failing. We can never fail if we keep praying, showing the way and passing on our faith.
“This is probably the most important job we will ever have and, for many of us, it may be our last. It is one from which we can never retire, so let us do our best. We owe it to our grandchildren. We simply want the best for them. We want them to be good people who make the world a better place, to know the difference between right and wrong and to be able to make informed moral decisions.
“I encourage all grandparents to turn to God’s spirit of wisdom and courage and protect Ireland’s culture of life for future generations.”