Ireland to hold abortion referendum weeks before Papal visit

‘Ireland’s prime minister announced a referendum on whether to repeal the country’s ban on abortion in nearly all cases on Tuesday, with the vote due to take place just a few weeks before a visit from the Pope.
Leo Varadkar said the controversial referendum, which is likely to divide the largely Catholic country, would be held in May or June of 2018.
The following August the pontiff will travel to Dublin to attend the World Meeting of Families , in what will be the first papal visit to the country since 1978.
Under the Irish constitution’s eighth amendment, abortion is illegal unless there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. Mr Varadkar has previously criticised the amendment as “too restrictive,” though he is personally opposed to legalising abortions on demand.’
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