It would be an understatement to say that Ireland has changed dramatically during Fine Gael’s heavy handed 13 year reign.
Abortion and same sex marriage have both been legalised, young people have fled the country in a number of waves of excessive emigration, human trafficking has become staple of the economy, tens of thousands of economic migrants have been permitted to destroy passports upon arrival to the country while birth rates have completely collapsed.
Can we find anything positive to say?
Only that the near decade and a half reign of terror must finally be nearing its end.
In their latest iconoclastic money wasting referendum, the state is asking people to force mothers out of the home by economic necessity and to redefine ‘marriage’ as equivalent to ‘durable relationships’ such as polygamy, throuples and perhaps even barbers and their customers.
The church has expressed dissatisfaction with the wording, for no small reason.
The government has repeatedly engaged in campaigning for the referendum in a manner that borders on criminal. They have not held robust debate in the parliamentary settings. They have refused to ease concerns over the potential ramifications of the law changes and they have blatantly lied about the content of the constitution, repeatedly falsely claiming that it states that a ‘woman’s place is in the home’.
Catholic Bishops have responded by calling for a No No vote, writing:
The proposed amendment would have the effect of abolishing all reference to motherhood in the Constitution and leave unacknowledged the particular and incalculable societal contribution that mothers in the home have made and continue to make in Ireland. The present constitutional wording does not in any way inhibit women from working or taking their proper place in social and public life. It does, however, respect the complementary and distinct qualities that arise naturally within the Family. The role of mothers should continue to be cherished in our Constitution.
Others, such as the Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus have also commented:
The Knights urge NO: NO votes in the forthcoming Referendums. Supreme Knight of St. Columbanus, John Murphy urges citizens to vote No in respect of the two constitutional votes being held on March 8. The Order of the Knights of St. Columbanus wholly endorse and support the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference statement on the Family and Care Referendums issued on the 25th February 2024. He is strongly of the view that these Referendums will not improve the lot of Irish women and men. In particular in relation to the Family amendment, "marriage" entails a public and legal commitment, the term "durable relationship" is shrouded in legal uncertainty, open to wide interpretation and will result in years of legal argument for what end? In relation to the Care amendment and argumentation for its adoption, the current Article 2 emphatically does NOT state that a woman's place is in the " home". Neither does it excuse men of their duties and responsibilities to the home and family. The proposed amendment would abolish all references to motherhood in the constitution. The present constitutional wording does NOT in any way inhibit women from working or taking their proper place in social, economic and public life. He encourages all citizens to cast their ballot on March the 8th and on the basis of the common good to vote No in relation to both Referendums
Podcaster Fr. Brendan Kilcoyne has also denounced the ‘sinister’ vote.
Other groups, such as pro family group Family Solidarity have said:
The expression “durable relationships” is extremely vague. As undefined it would leave important legal interpretations to the judiciary, leading to unpredictability and inconsistency in how family relationships are recognised and treated under the law. While polygamy or polyamory have currently no legal recognition, nobody is prevented from being involved into multiple “durable relationships”. If the referendum passes, one particularly concerning possibility is the legal recognition of polygamous or polyamorous relationships under the guise of “family.” This could also drastically expand eligibility criteria for family reunification in Irish immigration law, leading to unforeseen and possibly unsustainable social and legal outcomes.
