Ireland’s Referendum on Marriage, Motherhood and Family – March 8th
Ireland is at it again, or at least those who currently govern the Emerald Isle, once so Catholic, and, now, well, chucking off her glorious heritage. On March 8th, Ireland will vote on amending its constitution, for the worse, by changing the definition of marriage, and removing the connection between marriage and the family.
Back in 2017, the same current government of Ireland, under the homosexual Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, removed Ireland’s constitutional prohibition against abortion, which protected the life of the mother and the unborn child, removing all of the pro-life provision, with the text now reading simply:
Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.
The only county to vote against this invidious legislation was lovely, scenic Donegal, which, I am happy to say, is where my Dad’s family originates, and where my grandmother is from. My Dad and I cycled around the coast when I was but a young lad, and, even though the rot was already setting in, I only wish I had appreciated Ireland more then, before she had not declined so tragically.
Here are the current proposed changes to her constitution, highlighted:
| The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. | The State recognises the Family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. | ||
| The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack. |
|
source: wikipedia.org
In one of my classes, I show various constitutions of countries across the world, to see how they have, or have not, infused their founding principles with Catholicism, as Pope Leo XIII in his 1885 encyclical Immortale Dei decreed was necessary to govern a state well. Ireland is, or was, one of the best examples. The opening lines of her constitution run as follows:
In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred,
We, the people of Éire, Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial, Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation, And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations, Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.
Glorious! But now all of this is being betrayed and whittled down, and likely that preamble will soon be cast into the rubbish bin, perhaps replaced with obeisance to Allah.
Saint Malachy purportedly prophesied that Ireland would be inundated by the sea before she lost the Faith. There are still many faithful in old Eire, and may they come out in droves to vote for life, motherhood and family. Otherwise, that tsunami may soon be on its way…
Saint Patrick and Saint Bridget and all saints of Ireland, dèan ùrnaigh air ar son!+
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→