Ireland's vote to approve same sex marriage is reverberating far from Ireland's shores and already there is a renewed energy in Italy to pass civil union legislation if not outright gay marriage. The forces that transformed Ireland from a nation controlled by the theocratic power of the Catholic Church to a secular nation where the young in particular reject main Church teachings are taking place in modern nations across the globe. Whether or not the Church faces this new reality will likely determine whether the Church is reduced to a church of the elderly in the western world with new growth only in backward, uneducated areas such as Africa. A piece in the New York Times looks at Ireland and what the Church must come to terms with. Modern society is washing its hands of what the Church is peddling, especially on matters of sexuality. Given the bitter old men in dresses in Roman who live in a Fox News like bubble, I don't see the Church reforming itself anytime soon. Here are article highlights:
After the votes were counted, the carefully planned and executed
campaign by activist groups seemed as much about putting behind a past
entrenched in theocracy and tradition as it was about marriage for gays
and lesbians. And it underscored how different Ireland is today for the
young, who turned out in droves to vote. In a little more than a
generation, Ireland has both distanced itself from the church and
sharpened its secular identity.
“The
church needs to take a reality check,” Archbishop Martin said after the
Mass, repeating a comment he had made Saturday. “It’s very clear
there’s a growing gap between Irish young people and the church, and
there’s a growing gap between the culture of Ireland that’s developing
and the church.”
The
country’s cultural evolution reflects a blend of disaffection with the
church, and Ireland’s willingness to embrace a wider vision of itself in
the world. As the church lost many people in its scandals and its
unwillingness to yield to sexual freedoms, the European Union found itself with a willing and eager member.
Tony Flannery,
a priest who was suspended in 2012 because of his criticism of the
church’s views on women and homosexuality, said contraception was a
seminal issue for a generation that became the parents of today’s
youngest voters.
And it “was the first time that Irish Catholics first questioned church
teaching,” Mr. Flannery said. “That opened the door, and after that they
increasingly began to question a whole raft of Catholic sexual
teaching, and then the child sexual abuse scandal came along which
destroyed church credibility in the whole area of sexuality.”
“The
people have changed their relationship with the Catholic Church because
they’ve been disappointed and let down,” said Christina Breen, 54, who
visited Dublin Castle on Saturday to see the results of the vote, a show
of support because one of her sons is gay.
Or,
as Mr. Flannery put it, “The day when the church had the power to
influence social debate in Ireland, or to swing it, is gone.”
“The biggest change I see is the young people,” said Annie Dillon, 58, who works for a community-based health organization.
“I’m
thinking of my 20-year-old nephew; it was like a no-brainer for him,”
she said. “He was like, ‘Of course, why wouldn’t we want to be including
everybody?’ That seems to be the prevailing attitude.”
“For many, and I’ve said this before, inside the church becomes almost
alien territory to them in today’s society,” he [Diarmuid Martin, the archbishop of Dublin] said. “If the leadership
of the Irish Catholic church don’t recognize that, then they’re in
severe denial. Have I got a magic formula? Certainly not.”
With over a third of America's Millennials having walked away from organized religion, the Catholic Church and other anti-gay, fundamentalist denominations are moving quickly to the sort of rejection that just happened in Ireland. Preaching hate and division and psychological obsession with all things sexual simply isn't selling anymore.
One of the few bright spots in the Irish Roman Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal has been Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who has been willing to call out those who engaged in coverups and a reign of intimidation against sex abuse victims. Sadly, on the issue of same sex marriage, Martin has embraced the Church's 13th century "natural law" and come out on the side of ignorance and bigotry. Perhaps it was to be expected, but it is yet another example of the Church's death wish in the west and modern countries as it slides towards becoming a church largely based in Africa and other regions where ignorant, uneducated populations. Independent Catholic News looks at Martin's embrace of ignorance and bigotry. Meanwhile, the Church finds itself on a head on collision with the Irish government as reported by NBC News. It is a welcomed development that the government no longer does the Church's bidding. Here are highlights:
Ireland will become the first country in the world to vote directly on
same-sex marriage Friday in a neck-and-neck referendum that has seen
most of the Catholic country's government and the church on opposing
sides.
The earliest opinion poll in the
campaign indicated a 'Yes' vote of 76 percent, but the gap between the
sides has narrowed. Polls published Sunday
suggested support for the 'Yes' campaign at between 53 and 69 percent.
However, Irish prime minister Enda Kenny last week declared the race too
close to call.
Kenny, who is advocating
a 'Yes' vote, said Ireland "had gone on a journey from
decriminalization of homosexuality [in 1993] … and now a step towards
civil marriage."
In an interview with TV3, he asked:
"Are the Irish people going to deny their own kith and kin the right to
have a marriage contracted in civil law if that's what they wish to
do?"
Leading the charge for a
'No' vote are the Catholic Church and associated think tanks, as well
as groups such as Catholic Comment. A member of that group, Petra
Conroy, told NBC News that the referendum is about "the unique mother,
father and child relationship," adding: "I think we can have equality
and leave marriage as it is."
U2 singer Bono has endorsed a 'Yes'
vote, telling the Irish Independent that he believes the vote should not
be seen as a religious issue. "Think about it — trying
to co-opt the word 'marriage' is like trying to co-opt the word 'love.'
You can't own it," he said. "Marriage is now an idea that transcends
religion. It is owned by the people. They can decide. It is not a
religious institution. As far as I know, Jesus wasn't a married man and
neither are most priests [who are] talking about it."
Dubliner and 'Yes' voter Gordon
Hickey believes the country's constitution doesn't reflect modern
Ireland and said he was "extremely worried" about the outcome of the
referendum.
"The 'No' campaign claim
it's about protecting children," he told NBC News. "Well I am someone's
child. What about my rights? I want to be recognized as equal; gay
people already feel like second-class citizens; having to beg our
country to recognize us as equal just makes us feel worse."
One of the few members of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy for who I have any shred of respect is Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who has repeatedly called out members of the hierarchy who aided in sex abuse cover ups and/or threatened and intimidated abuse victims. He seems to be nearly alone when it comes to recognizing that the Church is on a road to suicide if the hierarchy doesn't change its mindset and behavior. Now Martin is calling out opponents of marriage equality for what they are: insulting, obnoxious and most significantly, unchristian. yes, Martin is still wrong in his views, but he at least understands that horrific treatment and statements about gays is only accelerating the exodus from the Church and religion in general. Would that more Church leaders, including Pope Francis, not to mention American political leaders, had as much honesty and backbone. Here are highlights from Pink News:
In his address the Archbishop set out his own opposition to the
issue, saying: “There is only one marriage and that is marriage as a
basic human reality.
“There is a radical difference between marriage between a man and a woman and the union of two people of the same sex.”
However, he also condemned groups for allowing their stance on the issue to become “obnoxious”. He said: “I have consistently said that the debate must be carried on respectfully without the use of intemperate language.
“I would add that it must be carried on rationally and with
respectful argument and not simply with one-liners aimed at stopping
debate.
“I do however feel obliged to say that I have received in recent time
correspondence from people who support a ‘no’ vote in the referendum in
which the language used is not just intemperate but obnoxious,
insulting and, unchristian in regard to gay and lesbian people.
“If people use such language to support a position they feel is
Christian, then all I can say is that they have forgotten something
essential about the Christian message.”
Ultimately, other than ignorance and bigotry embracing religious belief, there is no winning debate against same sex marriage - something that Martin sadly fails to concede. But at least he isn't coddling the hate merchants.
One of the few bright lights in Ireland's Catholic Church sex scandal has been Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who consistently spoke out and called for accountability among members of the Irish Church hierarchy. Now, Martin is rocking the hierarchy's boat again by stating that homophobia is an "insult to God" and taking to task those who do not show love towards gays. Martin obviously needs to get this message across to members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops which continues to press an anti-gay jihad in dioceses all across America. The Irish Independent looks at Martin's comments. Here are story excerpts:
HOMOPHOBIA is "insulting to God", Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has warned.
In the wake of the so-called 'Pantigate' controversy over homophobia
comments made on RTE and a defamation settlement, Dr Martin said: "God
never created anybody that he doesn't love."
Speaking to the Irish Independent,
the senior cleric said this meant that "anybody who doesn't show love
towards gay and lesbian people is insulting God. They are not just
homophobic if they do that – they are actually Godophobic because God
loves every one of those people".
Referring to the revelations made last week by TD Jerry Buttimer,
that he was beaten, spat at, mocked and harassed because he was gay, Dr
Martin expressed concern saying: "Certainly the sort of actions that we
heard of this week of people being spat at because they were gay or
ridiculed . . . that is not a Christian attitude. We have to have the
courage to stand up and say that."
He added: "We all belong to one another and there is no way we can build up a society in which people are excluded or insulted.
"We have to learn a new way in Ireland to live with our differences and for all of us to live with respect for one another."
Concerns
have been raised that debate could be stifled ahead of the upcoming
referendum on gay marriage, after the national broadcaster paid
compensation and apologised to officials from the Catholic advocacy
group The Iona Institute over comments on homophobia made on 'The
Saturday Night Show' by gay rights activist Rory O'Neill, who performs
under the drag name Miss Panti Bliss.
Dr Martin said that at times in society today there was a "harshness and
an arrogance and a relentless sense of vindictiveness, both in deeds
such as in violence, but also in speech and in public debate".
It goes without saying that Martin's message would not be popular with the bishops of Richmond and Arlington here in Virginia nor with the hate merchants at The Family Foundation.
