"I think the 'yes' vote was an anti-Church vote," said Annemarie McCarrick, referring to the "yes" vote in favor of ending the constitutional ban. The 52-year-old lecturer said on the cathedral steps that a series of sex abuse scandals had undermined the influence of the Church in Ireland. Frank Gaynor, a 75-year-old retiree, said after the Mass that he never imagined the vote in favor of abortion rights would be so lopsided. With the vote decided, attention is turning to Ireland's parliament, which will make new laws to govern abortions. It isn't yet clear what strategy abortion opponents will use in parliament in light of the unexpectedly large vote in favor of repeal.

Source: ABC News May 27, 2018 07:44 UTC