Recognising same-sex marriage would be an attack on the right of children to a mother and father, according to the director of the Iona Institute, David Quinn. Responding on Monday to the launch a new group, MarriagEquality, who are campaigning for same sex marriage, Mr Quinn said that marriage was designed primarily to ensure “that as many children as possible are raised by their mothers and fathers”.
For this reason, he said, the social institution of marriage was “intrinsically heterosexual”.
“Allowing same-sex marriage would show that both the State and society had lost sight of this fundamental reality. It would amount to a statement that marriage is really a vehicle for supporting adult sexual unions and is only incidentally about children, or it would be saying that children don’t really need a mother and father or have a right to a mother and father," Mr Quinn added.
However, while he said that the Iona Institute was opposed to same-sex marriage, it accepted that there was an argument for conferring on same-sex couples, and others in caring relationships, certain protection rights such as a right to apply for maintenance or a property settlement in the event of a relationship breakup. He rejected the claims of gay rights groups that this was "second-class citizenship".
Instead, he insisted, this position was "simply recognition of the fact that different kinds of relationships should be treated in different ways".
Meanwhile, Gráinne Healy, the co-chair MarriagEquality, told a meeting to launch the campaign, the Constitution was not an unmovable obstacle to civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
"Instead of presenting (the need for) a constitutional referendum as a fait accompli, politicians should find out first by amending the 2004 Act and then see what happens. This would be progressive and brave legislating on behalf of all citizens," she said.
The Government have repeatedly said that the legal advice they have received precludes them from introducing full civil marriage for same sex marriage, on the grounds that it would violate the Constitution.
The High Court ruling in the recent Zappone-Gilligan case found that the Constitution defined marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution.
The MarriagEquality campaign says it has received strong backing from TDs, Senators, equality organisations and trade union groups.
Meanwhile, Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe told the meeting that the introduction of legislation allowing civil marriage for same-sex couples did not have the majority support of the Government.
Mr Cuffe continued that he and his party backed legislation for same sex marriage but did not have the support in Government of the majority partner. "At the end of the day politically it boils down to six versus 78," he said.
The Government has said it will publish a civil partnership Bill later this year. But same-sex couples say civil partnership will not guarantee the same rights as civil marriage, and are calling for parity with the rights of married heterosexuals.
Mr Cuffe said his party had been putting pressure on Fianna Fáil to introduce civil marriage. He said a commitment was in place to develop the heads of a Bill on the subject before the end of March.
He was speaking at the launch of a campaign to have the Civil Registration Act amended to open civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples.
Sotto Voce: CW would like to offer its full support to MarraigeEquality in its attempt to get legal recognition for civil unions and would be only too happy to help in whatever way it possibly can.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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