Irish Govt publishes a radical Same-Sex Bill.

The Irish Government has published a Bill providing for “Same-Sex Civil Partnerships”. A handful of EU states have enacted laws for “same-sex unions”, but the proposed Irish law would be among the most radical of these.

It provides no protections whatsoever for religious freedom, raising the prospect that religious groups and individuals could face ruinous lawsuits for refusing to take part in activities related to the proposed “civil partnerships”.

The measure would also criminalise Registrars whose consciences will not allow them collaborate in such arrangements.

Although the Irish Constitution requires the State “to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack”, the present Government has steadily eroded the special status of marriage in Irish society.

So far, the Government has dismissed concerns about the effects of the proposed law. When a priest in his constituency told parishioners that “Catholic members of the Oireachtas [Irish Parliament] cannot support [the Civil Partnerships Bill] while remaining in good standing with the Church”, the Minister responsible, Dermot Ahern, responded that “I am a republican....I don’t bring whatever religion I have to the table”.    Irish Times,  F&L

Notes for our readers:

" I don't bring whatever religion I have to the table "

The above choice being taken by many Irish politicians is part of a trend within countries of the EU, and elsewhere. Both Cardinal Brady and Pope Benedict have addressed the issue facing EU and Catholic politicians :