A CLARE gay-rights organisation has criticised comments made by Cardinal Seán Brady at the recent Ceifin Conference in Ennis, accusing him of stigmatising the children of gay parents and being “out of touch” with modern Ireland.Speaking at the annual conference last week, Cardinal Brady objected to the civil partnership legislation proposed by the Government, describing at as an attack on the family.
“While we accept Dr Brady’s right to his opinion, we feel his comments were regrettable, we believe along with many others that couples in a committed same sex relationship should be entitled to the same state civil rights as people who have got married,” said a spokesperson for the Gay Clare organisation.
“The comments by Cardinal Seán Brady continue to stigmatise the children raised by gay mums and dads and underlines that he is out of touch with modern Ireland. All adults and children are entitled to equality regardless of their sexuality or the sexuality of their parents, this however is not the case and must change.
“It is high time that the lesbian and gay family unit, including children, are recognised and protected in Ireland. In our opinion genuine love between two people is something sacred and should be cherished, regardless of age, gender, colour, race or religion - it’s just a shame that the church does not feel the same.”
Cardinal Brady’s comments were also opposed by the north Clare Green Party candidate for next years local election, Ann Marie Flanagan.
“Cardinal Seán Brady is wrong to oppose the extension of basic rights to co-habiting and same sex couples. Planned Government legislation giving recognition to civil union was not an attack on the institution of marriage and the family, as the Cardinal claimed,” she said.
“I am saddened by Cardinal Brady’s remarks, and I would ask him to reconsider his position. I am disturbed to see him urging people to mount legal and political challenges to the planned civil union legislation.
“Apart from anything else, the action urged by the Cardinal risks returning Ireland to the dark ages.
Miss Flanaghan is a member of the Green Party Equality Policy Group and worked along with Green Party Equality spokesperson, Deputy Ciaran Cuffe, and lobbied for legislation honouring the Programme for Government commitment on the issue of civil unions.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: CP)