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People of faith urged to "be brave" and vote Yes in same-sex marriage referendum

Faith in Marriage Equality includes Catholic and Church of Ireland members.

mequality / YouTube

A GROUP CALLING itself Faith in Marriage Equality has formed to express religious people’s support for same-sex marriage.

With the referendum on same-sex marriage due in May, Faith in Marriage Equality (FIME) says it wants to show that people of faith can also support the move. It also wants to add new voices to the debate about the referendum in Ireland.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Dr Richard O’Leary said they intend to challenge views put across by conservative Christian organisations like the Iona Institute.

He added that they want to show that “people with faith can understand that marriage is based on the values of love and commitment”.

Dr Ciarán O’Mathúna of Gay Catholic Voice Ireland said that he is calling for people of faith to come forward “and be brave” and vote yes in the referendum.

grab FIME FIME

FIME said that the organisations who have endorsed their group include We Are Church Ireland, Gay Catholic Voice Ireland, and Changing Attitude Ireland.

Their charter states:

  • 1. We are all equal under God, whether we are heterosexual or gay. Faith leaders should not marginalise or exclude people who are gay rather they should promote equality and inclusion.
  • 2. People of faith understand that marriage is based on the values of love and commitment. This is the case for heterosexual and same sex couples, whether the marriage involves children or not.
  • 3. Faith institutions already distinguish between civil and religious marriage. While it is proper that faith leaders govern their members’ access to religious marriage, they should not seek to prevent access to civil marriage.
  • People of faith can exercise their freedom of conscience to vote yes to civil marriage in this referendum, as was done to permit civil divorce twenty years ago.

They are hoping that other groups and individuals will endorse their charter.

“We want to highlight that people in faith can vote yes in the referendum,” said O’Leary.

Asked if he feels that people of faith who support same-sex marriage haven’t had their voices heard nationally, he said: “We do.”

We think that because most media attention has been given to the conservative Christian groups, or Catholic bishops, the yes voice from people of faith, heterosexual and gay, has not been heard.

Dr O’Leary concluded: “Jesus was a champion of the oppressed and the minorities, and there are positive messages in our religious teachings which would argue for the full inclusion and social justice for gay persons and same-sex [relationships] in our society.”

Poll: Have you decided how you’ll vote in the same-sex marriage referendum?

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Jan 11th 2022, 7:45 AM

    Not our busines to know exactly what he died from but “dysfunction of his immune system.” sure makes me wonder why the mystery!

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Jan 11th 2022, 7:55 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: what mystery?? Look up the condition at 100s of things can cause it!!!

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Jan 11th 2022, 8:44 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: Maybe just leave it at your first 10 words…… RIP.

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Jan 11th 2022, 9:16 AM

    @Tom Kelly: yes, so why not be more specific.

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Jan 11th 2022, 9:17 AM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: becuase you say so?lol

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    Mute Marco
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    Jan 11th 2022, 10:30 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: no mistery here, he had a lymphatic cancer few years ago.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jan 11th 2022, 10:35 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: Because it’s none of our business.

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Jan 11th 2022, 10:37 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: you were right to start with, none of your business.

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    Mute Marc Johns
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    Jan 11th 2022, 11:14 AM

    @Eoin Roche: it’s anyones and everyone’s business. That’s why we have inquests and death certificates. Matter of public record.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jan 11th 2022, 12:27 PM

    @Marie Broomfield: David Sassoli received a bone marrow transplant 10 years ago, this is commonly used to treat multiple myeloma.

    “He had undergone a bone marrow transplant 10 years ago and he died in a cancer clinic in the northeastern town of Aviano.”

    https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-parliament-president-sassoli-has-died-spokesperson-2022-01-11/

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    Mute 011Y
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    Jan 11th 2022, 8:03 AM

    He seemed like a really decent human being. RIP.

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    Mute Declan J Walsh
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    Jan 11th 2022, 7:49 AM

    RIP

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