Another very, very Catholic country (over 88%) has legalized recognition of same-sex relationships: Ireland.
One of our readers, Louise, from Ireland sent this article to me — and she was at the Dáil, the Irish Parliament in Dublin, to see it happen:
The Bill recognising the civil partnership of same-sex couples passed all stages in the Dáil tonight without a vote.Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the Civil Partnership Bill would put in place a legal regime that reflected the many forms of relationships in modern Irish society.
“Our society has change substantially in recent decades,’’ he said. “While marriage is more popular than ever, other forms of relationships have become increasingly common; they create some difficulties in the legal system and require in our law a measure of recognition and of protection.”
I have spent a lot of time in Ireland. My grandparents were born in rural County Galway and I’ve still got loads of family over there. In 1991, I studied for a semester studying law at the University College Galway. Back then, I learned that the Irish Supreme Court Justices occasionally cited Papal Encyclicals in their decisions.
Look at Ireland now. It just leapt ahead of the United States in terms of partnership recognition.
Oh, these are some of the best lines in the article:
The Catholic bishops have come out strongly against the legislation. However, Government ministers recently dismissed claims from them that the Bill may be unconstitutional.
Yeah, in 88% Catholic Ireland, the Bishops ridiculous claims are “dismissed.” In the U.S., members of Congress still do their bidding.
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