Monday, October 29, 2007

Ireland moves closer to gay 'marriage'

Just as we thought it was safe to go back in the water:

Irish lawmakers to move forward on civil-union proposal


Dublin, Oct. 26, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Ireland's Labour Party has announced plans to re-introduce legislation that would establish civil-union recognition for same-sex couples.

The Labour proposal, to be brought before the Dáil (parliament) next week, would provide same-sex couples with the same legal and financial benefits as traditional marriage.

Similar legislation was introduced early this year, but after debating the measure the Dáil agreed to postpone further action for 6 months at the request of the government.

In announcing plans to revive the legislation, the Labour Party called attention to the support the proposal had received from Ireland's major political parties, noting that those who had sought immediate approval for the bill earlier this year now constitute a majority in the Dáil. Labour officials also took note of the government's promise to allow early consideration of the measure.

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern announced in July that his government "is committed to providing a more supportive and secure legal environment for same-sex couples." Ahern said that legislation allowing for recognition of civil partnerships would be introduced "at the earliest possible date."


This story comes from Catholic World News. Melancholicus has taken the liberty of correcting the American misspelling of the name of the Labour party, but the rest of the piece is unaltered.

Melancholicus was commenting in his previous post on what he hopes is the calibre of today’s aspirants to the sacred priesthood. He would like to hope they will be firm on moral aberrations such as “gay marriage”.

Even though this legal fiction — which would see the State granting rights to relationships involving a sin crying to Heaven for vengeance — has not yet been introduced into Ireland, we are constantly threatened with it. The left has not been inactive (are they ever?) and legal recognition of sodomitical unions is one of their sacred cows of the hour.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Fianna Fáil/PD coaltition government clearly postponed the bill for six months owing to the fact that there was a general election in the offing, and that approving such unions at the time could have—I should say would have—had a catastrophic effect on the Fianna Fáil vote. Most of the socially-conservative element within the Irish electorate have traditionally cast their vote for Fianna Fáil, in much the same way and for much the same reasons as the conservative and religious community in the United States would tend to vote for the Republican Party.

In that case, postponement of the bill was a mere political ploy. Fianna Fáil have since the recent election formed a new government with the Green Party (the PDs are out and on the ropes, and that right deservedly), and it seems from Bertie’s position on the matter that Fianna Fáil is fully prepared to lend its support to legally-sanctioned shit-stabbery and to let the Labour Party have their bill.

While this bill, if it becomes law, is not quite gay “marriage”, it is as good as. Expect the final step, complete with highly-publicized wedding ceremonies with full-colour photos of bride and bride and groom and groom on the front page of this newspaper, to follow in short order.

As for the Church... Melancholicus is sure that the homosexualists and their abettors in the Dáil will not stop at mere civil ceremonies. Since in their minds homosexuals have—or ought to have—exactly the same rights in all circumstances as others, it is only a logical step toward demanding that the Catholic Church provide nuptial blessings for such couples, should they so desire it.

Given the parlous state of the Irish Church, I wonder just how many clergy would see this horror for the abomination it is and would resist even unto fines, court cases, deposition and imprisonment, and how many on the other hand would only be too delighted to join man and man in sodomitical ‘matrimony’ in front of the very altar of God?

That’s a frightening picture. But we may be confronted with it in reality, and sooner rather than later. It is a matter for much prayer.

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