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Christian Solidarity Party Letter To TD's and Senators
Christian Solidarity Party Letter To TD's and Senators
The family based on marriage gives children the optimum start in life
Marriage provides most children with their best chance of growing up in a happy, stable, supportive family. Parents who
make a solemn legal commitment to each other are more likely to be committed to their children. They are also more likely
to stay together through their children’s formative years.
The legitimate rights of homosexual citizens can be guaranteed without the proposed law
Advocates of the Bill have claimed that such a law is necessary to address unjust discrimination suffered by homosexual
citizens. This is not true. If there are specific areas where homosexual citizens are unjustly discriminated against, these can
be addressed by specific legal remedies. They do not require the creation of a legal institution analogous to marriage.
Only a handful of countries has chosen the path Ireland proposes to follow. Others have considered it and rejected it
While supporters of the Bill would like to give the impression that this is part of an irresistible international trend, this is not
the case. Only a very small minority of countries have introduced similar laws. Even within the EU, where such laws are
most common, only a minority of countries has introduced such laws and some of those are much more limited in scope
than the proposed Irish law. In other jurisdictions, legislation of this sort has not had the expected effect. In the UK, for
example, an initial burst of enthusiasm for the novelty of civil unions was followed by a precipitous decline in the numbers
availing of them.
The Bill would impose severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of conscience and religion
This Bill will force those who believe in traditional marriage to act against their deepest held convictions or face legal
action. Photographers, printers, Church halls and anyone who provides services relating to weddings are among some of
those who could find themselves being sued if they refuse, for conscientious or religious reasons, to provide services to
same-sex couples. This Bill treats those who believe in traditional marriage as equivalent to racist bigots. In fact, it
represents the most aggressive attack on freedom of conscience and religion seen in this country for a long time and it
would be hard to find a similar example in any developed democracy.
Is mise, le meas,
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Paul O’Loughlin,
President Of Christian Solidarity Party.