Last week Eloise McInerneyand Tony Allwrightdebated the question "Should the State sanction gay marriage?" Here is an edited selection of your comments:
My grandfather was born in Ireland. He would be rolling over in
his grave over this. Will the Emerald Isle transition to the
Lavender Isle? Homosexual behaviour is diseased and threatens the
common good. There is no such thing as a "committed" sodomite
relationship.
Mary Ann Kreitzer, United States
As a Catholic priest, I fully support the co-equality of every
human being made as we are in the image and likeness of God. To
treat as equal before the law of the land the love between
same-gender adults is a work of justice that cries to Heaven for
implementation. Surely it is past time that the Irish State did as
our ancestors envisaged all those years ago and "treat all our
children equally."
Bernard J Lynch, United Kingdom
Tony Allwright asserts that if same-sex marriage were
introduced, there would be nothing stopping people marrying each
other for tax breaks. Bizarrely, he doesn't follow that thought
through and realise that such fraudulence is entirely possible with
heterosexual marriage.
Michael Pidgeon, Ireland
Homosexuality is unnatural behaviour and is opposed by the major
religions. I live and let live and don't force my opinion, but gay
adoption and marriage is a step too far. The child's innocence
would be morally corrupted and two dads will never replace a
mother's unique role and, like it or not, that child will be victim
to intolerable cruelty throughout his school years through no fault
of his/her own.
Joe, Ireland
Note to "Joe" who won't give his full name: the "intolerable
cruelty" you claim children of gay marriages would suffer would
very likely be inflicted by people like you.
Ciarán Reilly, Ireland
My parents brought me up to believe that marriage was a union of
two people who love each other. Does it matter that these two
people are the same sex?
Pat Mahood, Ireland
Tony Allwright writes that "It is true, however, that
availability of gay marriage might help reduce promiscuity among
gays". I for one vow that as soon as I can marry my lady, I will
stop preying on innocent straight women.
Annie, Ireland
The right to marry is a human and civil right. Denying that
right to lesbians and gay men is a fundamental denial of our rights
as human beings and as citizens. It is profoundly discriminatory,
and unegalitarian.
Ailbhe Smyth, Ireland
Well it's just a simple issue of minority discrimination which
should be solved as soon as possible. All arguments against gay
marriage apply essentially to straight marriage as well. People who
love each other and want to be together should be treated in the
same way, disregarding the question of their sexuality. I strongly
hope that Ireland will sanction gay marriage soon.
Vladimir Dotsenko, Ireland
The definition of marriage is a partnership between one man and
one woman, so until you take the decision to call something which
isn't by the term of something which is, the question, thankfully,
is merely rhetorical!
Susan Philips, Ireland
We have had same-sex marriage here for years, and despite what
some claim, civilisation has not ground to a halt, children of
same-sex couples have not been socially crippled, and we still have
freedom of religion.
Kaitlyn Burris, Canada
As someone who did make use of the civil partnership regulations
in the North, I see no reason why my friends 10 miles up the road
can't avail of a similar and preferably better facility of complete
equality in the form of a marriage. As far as my partner and myself
are concerned we are "married" to each other even if technically
it's called a civil partnership. Now is the time for change!
C, Newry, Ireland