The Iona Institute has appealed to Fine Gael not to cave in to Labour
on same-sex marriage.
The Programme for Government (PfG) agreed by both
parties commits the Government to bring forward
proposals on the issue to a constitutional review body.
Commenting on
the PfG, Dr John Murray of The Iona Institute said: ''Hopefully Fine
Gael will not cave into Labour on this issue.
''As a matter of public policy, society and the State give marriage
special status mainly because we want to encourage mothers and fathers
to raise their own children."
''Permitting same-sex marriage would completely compromise this vital
message. It would mean there is no longer any social institution aimed
at encouraging men and women to raise their children. This would be a
very retrograde step for the State to take and hopefully it won't take
it.''
Dr Murray said: ''Furthermore, opposition to same-sex marriage will
be denounced as bigotry as though it is 'bigotry' to believe that
ideally a child should have a married mother and father.''
He concluded: ''Currently opinion polls indicate substantial support
for same-sex marriage, but this support is likely to be soft and much of
it would evaporate when the issue is properly debated.''