It was once, but the change in recent decades has been astounding. I visited Dublin first around 1970, and the next time twenty years later. The first time I was smuggling in contraceptives for friends. The next time I was there, these objects were in vending machines in pub toilets.
Merged Irish SSM referendum.
- Thread starter Gulliver Foyle
- Start date
Monketi Ghost
Confusion Reactor
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- 25,141
Ah, Ulster. The only place in the where gay marriage is not lawful is the part of Ulster within the UK. The only place to vote against it in the Republic us the part of Ulster in that country.I was curious to see how Cavan-Monaghan would vote, as my sister lives in Cavan. It only just squeaked through, apparently Monaghan alone would've been No but modern, liberal, forward-thinking Cavan dragged the constituency over the line.
ddt
Mafia Penguin
I should have said "countries΅, which is accurate, and since I did expect such a reply. Geographically, of course, the Channel Islands are not British but French.
Cleon
King of the Pod People
Duffy Moon
Master Poster
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- Jan 31, 2010
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- 2,592
No but plenty of people waving balloons and throwing glitter at each other.
The dorty QUAAARS, ridin' each other's holes!
And after the spanking, the oral sex.
Trebuchet
Penultimate Amazing
I'm no betting man, but if I had 10 Euro on me, I would plonk it on YES and get 330 Euro back!
You got that exactly backward. A bet for Yes would have got you 10 of whatever they call 1/100 of a Euro. A bet on NO would have got you....a loss of your 10 Euro.
It didn't seem like there could be a more Catholic country than Ireland. Until the Irish RCC shot itself in the foot with multiple scandals (Magdalen Laundries, child molestation) and handled them about as badly as possible.
angrysoba
Philosophile
There has to be a joke there somewhere. Well, mister, you can go up the aisle but not with a man.
Or something.
Okay, now I should expect some sark-y comments.
angrysoba
Philosophile
I guess that's what I meant by "I'm no betting man".
I know. Third World Catholic country in more-liberal-than-California shocker.
angrysoba
Philosophile
Hey, give me some credit - I didn't use Google translate.
B'fhéidir gur chóir duit a bheith déanta.
angrysoba
Philosophile
I was curious to see how Cavan-Monaghan would vote, as my sister lives in Cavan.
It only just squeaked through, apparently Monaghan alone would've been No but modern, liberal, forward-thinking Cavan dragged the constituency over the line.
I suppose Monaghan and Donegal were areas likely to vote no being, traditionally, the most Catholic parts of Ulster.
abaddon
Penultimate Amazing
Don't get me wrong, but as a quintesessentionally straight bloke, and a yes voter, I'm proud to be Irish. First country to introduce SSM by popular vote. Not very long ago, it would have been unthinkable.
ddt
Mafia Penguin
Poland is also a worthy contender as country where the RCC has a big influence. And apparently, still has.
ddt
Mafia Penguin
That sounds a bit better than it actually is. It just so happened that (1) the Irish constitution mentions marriage, that (2) changing the constitution requires a referendum, and that (3) politicians opined that there was too much case law interpreting marriage as heterosexual marriage, to fix the question just by an ordinary law.
I think you'll find precious few countries where (1) holds, to begin with; well, several US states where the religious right has introduced constitutional bans on SSM (and which have mostly by now been overturned). And that takes away the need for a referendum in most cases.
By contrast, opinion polls in Germany show consistently 70+% support for SSM, yet the main right-wing party, the CDU, until now has blocked SSM legislation. And the German constitution does not allow for referenda, neither for constitutional changes nor for ordinary laws.
angrysoba
Philosophile
Dubious Dick
Muse
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2008
- Messages
- 515
Great to see a pretty substantial majority yes vote for gay marriage in Ireland. Another nail in the rc coffin, one hopes.
I was disturbed to see the words of the frankly odd looking archtwit of Dublin. The headline of the BBC piece quotes him as saying the rc church in Ireland needs a "reality check". I read this initially with some hope that he might be graciously admitting defeat and accepting that the church should be further modernised.
Silly me! No, he goes on to talk about how many of the younger yes voters are products of the catholic schools, and that the big challenge is looking at how the church should get its message across.
These dinosaurs really don't get it. One of the most encouraging aspects of this vote, apart from the downright justice of it in equality terms, is the schadenfreude I feel at the the thought of the clergy wringing their hands and fretting mightily.
I wonder if we will hear from the pope on this one? Let's hope he puts his foot in it again, and his halo slips a bit further.
I was disturbed to see the words of the frankly odd looking archtwit of Dublin. The headline of the BBC piece quotes him as saying the rc church in Ireland needs a "reality check". I read this initially with some hope that he might be graciously admitting defeat and accepting that the church should be further modernised.
Silly me! No, he goes on to talk about how many of the younger yes voters are products of the catholic schools, and that the big challenge is looking at how the church should get its message across.
These dinosaurs really don't get it. One of the most encouraging aspects of this vote, apart from the downright justice of it in equality terms, is the schadenfreude I feel at the the thought of the clergy wringing their hands and fretting mightily.
I wonder if we will hear from the pope on this one? Let's hope he puts his foot in it again, and his halo slips a bit further.
rjh01
Gentleman of leisure
In Australia the constitution says that the Federal government has powers over marriage. It does not say what thiage means. If there is any dispute then it would have to be determined by the High court. If they say marriage is only between a man and a woman then Australia too would have to have a referendum so that the Federal government could legislate for two people of the same gender to get married. Though the chances of the High court ever saying this, I think, is remote.
arthwollipot
Limerick Purist
Ah, Guinness. The beer you can chew.