Fire and Brimstone in Fornication Nation: but we're not laughing about the X case ruling being voted down

It was a speech crafted during the time of Noahs Ark and it resonated with Old Testament fervour.  Displaying a complete lack of knowledge in everything from biology to the mores of the 21st century, right wing Mayo TD Michelle Mulherin had the whole country on its knees with hilarity during the week.

Fornication, she reckons is the main cause of unwanted pregnancy.

“Abortion is murder, therefore sin, which is the religious argument, is no more sinful, from a scriptural point of view, than all other sins we don’t legislate against, like greed, hate and fornication. The latter, being fornication, I would say, is probably the single most likely cause of unwanted pregnancies in this country.” she said

Suggested ways to capitalise on the Irish love of fornication. Pic credit @Jimsheridan

To which there was a mass response of WTF? The wits took immediately to Twitter, #fornicationtax instantly began to trend and I'm telling you I haven't had such a good laugh in ages.   People discovered old biology books agreeing with Mulherins unlikely assertion, while others wondered if fornication was the main cause of pregnacy, what were the others?  Lollipops?  Witchcraft?  Immaculate conceptions?

@Donal O'Keeffe:  Easy for Michelle Mulherin TD to blame unwanted pregnancies on fornication but has she definitively ruled out witchcraft? I didn't think so.

@MissCatBradly: Fornication is probably the most common cause of unwanted bikini waxes

@ccrichton With all this talk of fornication and Padre Pio's glove(s) on Liveline I suddenly feel I have time travelled. To the dark ages.

@Jim Sheridan who makes me laugh so much (about everything)  took this opportunity to launch a brand new women's magazine - Fine Gael Woman - with features on Young Sluts, Unwed Mothers and Loose women.  Plus the article on 17 ways to stone Unmarried Women means that I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

But funny and all as it was and stupid as they come, she was sounding off during something very serious - the government debate on the introduction of the X Case legislation.

It's been TWENTY YEARS since we had that horrible, bitter and divisive referendum.  So it is TWENTY YEARS since we should have had at least limited access to abortion in Ireland.  But we don't.  And why not?

TDs like Michelle Mulherin.  The Government defeated the Private Members’ Bill, seeking to create a legal framework for abortion in Ireland where a woman’s life was at risk, by 111 votes to 20 the day of her ignorant speech.

111 votes to 20.

You know what?  I can't tell you how sick to death I am of living in a country where women have to take that horrible, awful and traumatic journey to England to get an abortion.  Even if their lives are at risk.  At last we're coming out and beginning to talk properly - in the papers (if you haven't read this article in Irish Times do it now) and the interviews on last nights  Late Late (catch up on the Player).

We need things to change.  We have to see change.

Let me know your views