Greg DalyDear Editor, While I mourn the result of the same-sex marriage referendum I also think of the hard work put in by you and all the writers in The Irish Catholic. You rose to the challenge in the face of a hostile and biased establishment.
Considering the circumstances, the fact that the vote came in at about 60% ‘yes’ and 40% ‘no’ was better than I had expected.
Of those who voted ‘yes’ surely a number were older Mass-going Catholics. So why did they vote yes? I believe that many did so because they thought it was a kind and loving thing to do for their gay family members and friends, and they were persuaded by the slogan “Equality and Love”.
This tells us that there is great confusion in the Catholic Church about Christ’s teaching. Many Catholics no longer know that same-sex relations are wrong. However much we love our child, sister, friend we cannot change God’s truth to accommodate our feelings and sympathy.
We need a new catechesis of all members of our Church, not only the young, as some of the older generation do not follow Christ’s teaching, have forgotten it or have been muddled by the confused messages that abound. How many believe sin still exists? How many go to Confession nowadays?
Each one of us should read and learn about our faith, read about the ethical issues of the day from reliable sources, discuss them among ourselves and with people of different views in an informed way.
As sure as night follows day the next issue to be addressed by the Government, media and interested groups will be abortion of babies with life-limiting conditions, euthanasia and assisted suicide. Although arguments in the name of mercy, compassion and quality of life will be used to persuade voters, it should be clear to all of us that they are all gravely wrong.
Yours etc.,
Dr Janina Lyons,
Clonsilla, Dublin 15.