Irish archbishop speaks out against same-sex marriage ahead of referendum
Ireland’s most senior Catholic archbishop has spoken out against same-sex marriage, ahead of the country’s referendum.
The Republic of Ireland is set to vote this spring on plans to introduce civil same-sex marriage.
The Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin – who is the most senior Catholic in the country as the Primate of All Ireland – called for people of faith to make it clear that marriage is between a man and a woman
According to the Tablet, he said: “We believe we have something to say on the issue of marriage and we would like to be able to say it and to say it freely in the public square.”
He said the Church should share the ‘good news’ of marriage between a man and a woman – and speak against the modern “hyper-sexualised world”.
At the same time, the archbishop also called for a debate “free from insult or injury or hurt to any person whether they be people of a homosexual orientation or people of faith who would oppose change on the grounds that it is essentially redefining marriage.”
Early polls have suggested a landslide for equality in the vote – but religious groups continue to have a large amount of influence.
The archbishop’s predecessor was forced to resign over his role in covering up child abuse conducted within the church.
