Paul Jalsevac
The InterimDana Rosemary Scallon, the singer-turned-politician and Ireland’s most famous champion of the pro-life cause, narrowly lost her seat in the June 14 European parliamentary election.
Scallon became famous as a singer, radio and television personality in Ireland in the 1970s and used her talents to spread her faith and beliefs through religious music and singing at several World Youth Days. She moved to the United States in 1987, where she had her own show on Mother Angelica’s ETWN.
In 1997, she became involved in politics after returning to Ireland to become a candidate for the office of president. She made a strong statement for family values when, though an independent candidate with no political organization behind her, she came in a credible third ahead of the candidate of the mainstream Labour Party. In 1999, she captured an independent seat on Ireland’s Connacht-Ulster European constituency, becoming the most visibly pro-life member of the European Parliament.
The mother of four refused to compromise on her beliefs when she led a successful opposition in 1999 to an Irish government amendment on abortion. Although restricting abortion, the amendment would have allowed distribution of the “morning-after” pill and IUD, as well as human embryo experimentation, because it defined human life as beginning at implantation. Her opposition saw her heavily criticized by the mainstream political parties, Roman Catholic bishops and even some pro-life organizations.
Scallon fought tirelessly at the EU to preserve Ireland’s pro-life and Christian heritage. She defended Ireland’s constitution in the face of the European Commission’s dictatorial attempts to force abortion, euthanasia and embryo research on Ireland and warned Irish voters to reject the Treaty of Nice, since it could legalize abortion and divorce in Ireland.
Earlier this year, she received the International Right to Life’s highest award for her work while in office to uphold the culture of life and for her shining example.
