Catholic charity Trócaire is to partner at an event with campaign groups that were heavily involved in repealing the 8th Amendment and legalising abortion-on-demand in Ireland.

The Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival will see Trócaire partner with Amnesty International, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and other groups in an event hosted by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders, an offshoot of Amnesty International.

Although they are official partners on festival literature with the groups, Trócaire defended the move, telling Gript.ie they will not work with any organisation “whose primary purpose runs contrary to Catholic Social Teaching”.

The charity, who count several bishops as trustees, said they were invited to screen a documentary and display online photography at the event, and that “screening a documentary is not an endorsement of other organisations involved in separate events.”

Trócaire said they had made no financial contribution to the event as partners.

Chairman for Alliance for the Defence of Family and Marriage Richard Greene said that an organization run by the Catholic Church should not “be partnering with organizations that promote abortion.”

“Many people who support Trócaire would be appalled to think that the charity is wasting time in associating with these groups, rather than concentrating all their efforts on alleviating poverty and ensuring an education for children.”

“The Catholic bishops of Ireland should step in and make it clear that this is not acceptable,” he said.

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