The Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown has urged the electorate in the Republic of Ireland to vote to keep the 8th Amendment.
The Bishop made the comments in a pastoral letter which will be made available from the Sacristy or Parish Office from Saturday, 21st April.
Citizens in the Republic will be asked on May 25 whether they want to repeal the Eighth Amendment of Ireland’s Constitution, a provision that makes abortion illegal in all but exceptional circumstances.
If the public votes to repeal the constitutional provision, the Irish Government intends to table legislation that would permit women to abort within 12 weeks of pregnancy.
In the letter, the Bishop states that the electorate are 'faced with a very stark choice about something which is very personal to many people.'
"The relationship between parent and child is deeply rooted in human nature," he said.
"Becoming a mother or father is a great joy for so many people. Many parents see their child as a miracle.
"Lots of children are alive now because of the wonderful care that sick or premature babies can receive. On the other hand many couples also experience the aching pain of not being able to have children of their own.
"The distress of miscarriage can be a trauma for both the expectant mother and the father. There can be great joy for those who adopt children when the biological biological parents cannot care for them. Parenthood touches the core of who we are as human beings."
However, the Bishop added that 'not all expectant mothers experience joy'.
"A pregnancy can be unwelcome, frightening and unplanned. The child may have special needs which will be a challenge for the parents before and after birth. These are very real situations where expectant parents may experience a whole range of feelings.
"Whatever the situation, life in the womb cannot reduced to merely a medical issue or something to do with ‘reproductive rights’."
He added the suggestion that supporters of the 8th Amendment are 'simply old-fashioned proponents of narrow Catholic laws' was an 'insult' to many people.
"There are many people of different religious traditions and none who argue for no change in the Constitution," the Bishop said.
"They believe that a modern secular country can both cherish the unborn child and support the mother in a crisis pregnancy."
The letter concludes with the Bishop urging people to 'tell legislators that the people of Ireland are capable of loving life in all its imperfections'.
"I urge all of them to tell them that, when we deny the dignity of some forms of human life, we undermine the dignity of all human life," the Bishop added.
"Tell legislators that the people of Ireland are capable of loving life in all its imperfections.
"Tell them that the adult and the baby are both infinitely valuable.
"Tell them that more compassionate solutions can be found for all crisis situations.
"Tell them that, when we deny the dignity of some forms of human life, we undermine the dignity of all human life.
"Tell their friends not to be ashamed of standing for this.
"Help everybody to have their voice heard on Referendum Day, May 25th."
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email editor@derrynews.net at any time.