Same Sex Marriage, Irish referendum and Vatican

The government of Ireland conducted referendums on 22 may 2015 to make amendments to the constitution of Ireland. The constitutional Convention, which was established in Ireland to discuss proposed amendments to the constitution of Ireland, had earlier recommended the amendments, which are obliged to reduce the age of candidacy for the President of Ireland from 35 to 21, and permit same-sex marriage.

The thirty-fourth Amendment of the constitution, an amendment to the constitution of Ireland to decree provision for same-sex marriage, was introduced to the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland, in 2015 by the Fine Gael-Labour government and passed for a referendum, which was held on 22 may 2015. With the majority of over 62% voters, the referendum was passed, thus making an historic event of a country legalizing same sex marriage in a nationwide popular vote.

Meanwhile, a moral uproar has come out of Vatican as a senior Vatican official has made it clear that the Irish vote to allow same sex marriage was a “defeat for humanity”. He added that it was not a defeat for Christian principles, rather a defeat for humanity. Parolin, Pope Francis’ most senior Vatican official, emphasized the dying need to improve the ways it preached the Christian message. Although, Pop Francis has shown what seems to be a sympathetic affinity towards homosexuals emphasizing his inability to judge them, he has not dared to override the Church doctrine that homosexuals are sinful and detrimental to the healthy progress of the society.

In the meantime, Morrissey, a British singer and lyricist, has backed the referendum of Ireland, eulogizing them for their decision to allow gay marriage, while criticizing them for their policies regarding their treatment of animals. He said that the people, once again, taught the church, and that they also taught politicians.

Jk Rowling, a British novelist best known as the author of the Harry potter fantasy series, has also come to the fore supporting the Irish government. She has joked on Saturday announcing a fictional wedding of Harry Potter character Dumbledore and the Lord of the Rings Wizard Gandalf in Ireland.