Yes vote will undermine the stability of society

The “Yes” campaign is creating the impression that the proposed referendum is a tidying-up exercise which will ensure something called “marriage equality”. However, the proposal to ascribe non heterosexual relations the same status in marriage is by far the greatest civilisational change to introduce by legislation.

This vote is not about human rights, the treatment of heterosexual and homosexual persons under law is identical. The vote is about whether the state should allow homosexual couples to marry.

This essential building block of society provides the basis for a society to achieve social stability, to protect women during childbirth and child rearing.

Marriage also enables children to reach maturity while achieving greater understanding of both the male and female elements of their own identity.

There can be little doubt that the social policies of the Irish state over the past 35 years have attacked marriage and undermined it as a social institution.

The effects in terms of child poverty, increase in single parenthood, increased childhood crime and increased male teenage suicide are as evident as they were predictable.

However, the current proposal will be more long lasting and far more destructive in its effects.

Mícheal O’Laocha

Corra Finne

Co An Chláir