In Ireland, What’s Legal Is Now Mandatory

The legalization of abortion in Ireland sparks a debate about conscience.
Before heading into the last general election, Ireland’s future Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, had described his views as “pro-life” and insisted that he was committed to keeping the protection of life in the Irish constitution, even if he supported an alteration. But things change quickly.

Once in office, and anticipating the change in public opinion, Varadkar came around to support repealing the Eighth Amendment to Ireland’s constitution, which recognized the equal right of the unborn child to life. When...