Irish primate affirms primacy of marriage, warns on same-sex unions

November 04, 2008

Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh has warned against legal recognition of same-sex marriage, in a speech that drew angry rebukes from legislators favoring the initiative. In his November 4 speech the Primate of All Ireland stressed that the family based on marriage is the primary unit of all society, with natural rights prior to those of the state. In refusing to grant the same rights to same-sex relationships, the cardinal said: "The intention is not to penalise those who have chosen or find themselves in different family forms or relationships. It is rather to uphold the principle that the family based on marriage between a man and woman is so intimately connected to the good of society that it is deserving of special care and protection." The cardinal's warning prompted Senator David Norris to suggest that Brady was "arrogant, threatening, and legalistic." Norris said that the cardinal's statements illustrated why young people are leaving the Church, and declared that the prelate had joined an odd list of political undesirables: "Karl Rove, George Bush, Robert Mugabe, and Ian Paisley."

 

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Further information:

• 'The Family as the Foundation of Society' (Cardinal Brady's text/Irish bishops' conference)
• Cardinal warns on 'marriage rights' (Press Association)
• Brady criticised over remarks on civil unions (Irish Independent)