McAleese accuses Catholic Church of hypocrisy over equality

The Catholic Church has been accused of hypocrisy over its opposition to marriage equality by former president Mary McAleese.

Making a highly personal, and deeply pointed intervention in the final days of the referendum campaign, the Catholic theologian and former president insisted that the Church’s stance was “ironic”.

Ms McAleese stressed that Church conceptions of marriage would not be impacted by a yes vote, as it was about extending civil marriage rights to same-sex couples, and that religious freedoms would remain.