Abortion Once Again an Issue in Ireland

Report on the country's restrictive laws due next month from the European Court of Human Rights

Ireland awaits a September report on its abortion laws by a European Court of Human Rights panel of experts at a time of rising political tensions over the issue and a backdrop of steep declines in the popularity of religion.

In Ireland, 84 percent ticked the Catholic box in Census 2011, while other data indicates that the ability for the church to enforce its doctrines is dropping significantly. How that will affect the nation's no-exceptions abortion laws remains uncertain.