Faith group challenges archbishop’s comments
In an article yesterday, Archbishop Martin invoked the teachings of Pope Francis as one of the reasons why he would be voting no.
“My position is that of Pope Francis, who, in the debates around same-sex marriage in Argentina, made it very clear that he was against legalising same-sex marriage, yet he was consistent in telling people not to make judgements on any individual,” he said in an article in The Irish Times.
READ MORE: Marriage Equality Referendum: Answering key questions .
However, spokesman for Faith in Marriage Equality Richard O’Leary, who is also a sociologist of religion, said popes tended to have “a poor record” when it came to comments on marriage.
“Popes have a poor track record of statements on marriage,” said Mr O’Leary. “In 1907 under Pope Pius X, the Catholic Church issued the decree Ne Temere which opposed mixed Catholic-Protestant marriage.
“The Church disapproved of parenting by mixed Catholic-Protestant couples. It took until 1970 before Pope Paul VI issued his papal letter Motu Proprio Matrimonia Mixta relaxing the Church’s opposition to mixed marriage.”
READ MORE: Marriage Equality Referendum: Answering key questions .
