Vatican politician labels Irish vote 'defeat for humanity'

The Vatican’s secretary of state has called the Irish vote to legalise gay marriage a “defeat for humanity”.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin said he personally was saddened by the landslide decision, in which more than 62% of voters in the Roman Catholic country voted Yes, despite church teaching that marriage is only between a man and woman.

In comments to reporters Cardinal Parolin referred to remarks by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, that the results showed the church needed to take a “reality check”.

Cardinal Parolin said the church needs to acknowledge the reality “but in the sense of reinforcing its commitment to evangelisation”.

He said: “I don’t think you can speak only about a defeat for Christian principles but a defeat for humanity.”