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Updated at 10.22pm
A FIANNA FÁIL Senator said in a speech today that he believed encouraging gay people to believe “sameness” could be achieved would only cause them “more harm than good”.
Jim Walsh, who is known for his conservative views, was speaking on the Marriage Equality Bill this afternoon in the upper house.
Opposing the proposed change to the Constitution to allow same-sex couples to get married, he said he believed the move would change “the definition and conception of family”.
As marriage currently protects the natural ties between mothers, fathers and their children, he said “changing marriage removes that protection”.
Later in his speech, he observed:
“I’m conscious of the fact that gay people have suffered [the] stigma and challenges of living in a society that is largely hetero-normative.
“However my concern is that gay people in same sex couples are being encouraged to believe that complete sameness is achievable.
“There’s a fundamental biological difference between same sex and opposite sex couples.
That difference will remain – encouraging gay people and same sex couples to believe that full equivalence and sameness are achievable would only cause more harm than good to them and I would worry about that because of the obvious natural differences which will endure regardless of redefining marriage.
At Fianna Fáil’s 2012 Ard Fheis, the party’s members voted to pass a resolution supporting equal marriage.
“The Party position is that we support that most basic Republican proposition – the entitlement to equality on the part of every Irish citizen,” Justice spokesman Niall Collins said in a speech earlier this month.
Norris
Earlier in the session, Senator David Norris had been in typically ebullient form – railing against opponents of gay marriage who felt their own union would be somehow diluted if the proposal was passed.
“Oh Ireney, I feel so much less married to you this morning”, he said – role-playing the part of an affronted Marriage Equality opponent.
If they do – to Hell with them!
“If their marriage is that weak – I have no sympathy whatever with them.”
Finishing his contribution he said that in Scandinavia (he didn’t specify a country) there was an increase in heterosexual marriage after same sex unions were legalised.
“I very much doubt if I’ll get married,” the veteran LGBT-rights campaigner said.
“But if there is anybody out there with qualifications in nursing and cookery and a large farm in Tipperary. Here I am!”
My number is on the Oireachtas website.
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Stand by for tons of comments from smug, self important atheists ridiculing the Filipinos.
Stand by for the inevitable smug comment slamming the atheists comments.
So bloody predictable.
You just got to see the comical side of millions of people running after a piece if wood in excessive temperatures.
Whatever turns you on.
@Joe, the reason they seem ‘smug’ is because all the evidence is on their side.
It’s the same way a physicist feels ‘smug’ about some mathematical equations to send a ship to the moon…because they firmly believe the facts are with them.
Of course, they could just launch a rocket and pray….
Or, the billions of people chasing after paper.
Queuing to see Michael Jackson relics at Newbridge Silverware good queuing to see Catholic relic ………..
I bet you guys called Copernicus and Gallillio Gallilei smug too just because they had a problem with believing stuff without any evidence whatsoever.
I guess, when you have little hope to address the core of the argument with coherent points, you’re left with name calling.
Black Friday?
Ah Joe,I see what you tried to do there,with your attempt to incorporate subtle racial connotations,which in fact proves you know little or nothing about atheism.
Superstition. Hope one day they have the education to see through it
I feel sorry for these people and how they have been colonised and continue to be exploited by westerners. A pushed belief in a better afterlife is a great way of keeping the indentured slaves happy.
Rip Jesus xx
@Joe, why is an atheist seen as smug, or self important? When you have millions of people scrambling to touch a wooden statue thinking it has powers it questions many things, doesn’t the bible mention not to worship false idols, and since the main population changed to Catholicism 400 years ago, did the previous religion not work?
Faith is seen as a virtue, but I won’t apologise for looking for fact, if you see that as smug then so be it. I am not laughing at those people but sad to see that many believe is superstition in the age we live in.
Because of Eamon Gilmore he ruined it for all atheists
Could not agree more, Graham
‘Scenes reminiscent of a rock concert mosh pit’. I was at a jesus and mary chain gig at the national, kilburn. It got so rough and abusive at the front they left the stage for their own safety! Music eventually broke out but we continued to smash the shit out of each other.
Now that’s where I found religion.
Halcyon days…..
Science, b!tches!
Thoughts and, er, prayers to his family at this tough time. Xx.
Sure they’re only having the craic nothing to see here at all.
All I am thinking about is oh my goodness all them people and I for one could not be there crowds like that no thank you just looking at them gives me a panic attack. As for what anyone believes in it’s down to them I am not judging anyone.
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