Irish archbishop warns: approval of same-sex marriage will bring intolerance of Christians
May 04, 2015
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh has warned that religious freedom will be in danger in Ireland if a referendum approving same-sex marriage succeeds. “If society adopts and imposes a new orthodoxy of ‘gender-neutral’ marriage, being defined simply as a union between any two persons-– including a man and a man, or a woman and woman-– then it will become increasingly difficult to speak or teach in public about marriage as being between a man and a woman,” the archbishop said, in a statement released through the Irish bishops’ conference.
Archbishop Martin observed that opponents of the referendum have already been subjected to intolerant criticism, with activists denouncing them as bigots. He asked:
How have we got ourselves into the situation that when people stand up to guard the dignity of difference between a man and woman, and speak for the traditional definition of marriage, they are often portrayed as being against freedom, or against equality?
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Further information:
- Ireland archbishop raises concerns about yes vote in gay marriage poll (Guardian)
- A Message on the Marriage Referendum: ‘Care for the Covenant of Marriage’ by Archbishop Eamon Martin (Irish bishops' conference)
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Posted by: trini -
May. 10, 2015 4:16 AM ET USA
Same-sex 'marriage' is false to logic, to natural law, and to society, as well as to religion. When the British Government legalized it, it used two false reasons. It said, first, that 'equality' demanded it. This is logical nonsense: the family unit of husband, wife and children, the core of society, is NOT the same as or equal to same-sex union. Secondly, it claimed that including same-sex unions as 'marriage' would strengthen even traditional marriage Nonsense. It has destroyed marrriage
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Posted by: MisSpellin -
May. 06, 2015 11:34 AM ET USA
Not so, I think the difference between a legal civil union and a marriage is an easy distinction to make. I also believe that civil unions should be available as a legal recourse for any co-habiting couple where one person does not earn an income outside the home to help care for the partner- in this case if it is two sisters or brother and sister, the other would be entitled to health insurance and social security benefits through the partner. The parnership would be dissolved by marriage.
