:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YTPVQUU3K4LVFB6JMBWICCMZCU.jpg)
Seventeen anti-abortion groups in the United States have urged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to retain the Eighth Amendment in the Constitution.
The groups delivered a letter to Mr Varadkar outlining their objection to removing the constitutional rights of the unborn.
The Taoiseach is in the United States as part of a St Patrick's Day visit and is Washington for a meeting with the US president Donald Trump.
The correspondence, signed by lobby groups including Civil Rights for the Unborn and Priests for Life, says the Eighth Amendment should be applauded, not removed.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/ORCKC3UEXREHUW2QYABPGAUKEY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/DHVQKV4HAIDHEUZIYWS73BA3HI.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/EUKZ3DB5XYASRW6DKGE3HFADSQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/UNEO6QTJMUQ5CIPPBVSUQTKV6Y.jpg)
It adds: “Taoiseach Varadkar, please don’t let love be defeated. Please uphold the right to life and the dignity of all persons – both born and unborn – through Ireland’s life-affirming Eighth amendment.
"Ireland has been a beacon of hope for America, that one day we too could have life-affirming laws that promote excellent healthcare for women and their children.
“You have the power to take a stand against the repeal of the Eighth and protect women and their children from abortion. Please do the right thing: uphold the Eighth Amendment and take a stand for life and for love.”
The letter points to American’s abortion laws and the rates of termination in America.
It says “abortion on demand is now the law of the land” and that it is a “ struggle to pass any kind of rollbacks on abortion”.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/MOENYACS6VA77KV7ZXJ7HWR6UM.png)