The Civil Partnership Bill has been described as “ground-breaking legislation.

” Often
portrayed as an issue of “rights”, “equality” or “diversity”, the Bill, which grants
special legal privileges and rights to a minority, denies basic constitutional rights to
a vast majority of Irish people and puts the survival of the traditional family in great
danger.

The main thrust of the Bill is to give most of the rights of married couples to same-
sex couples. Scientific research affords no evidence for a gay gene but this Bill
aligns “gay” behaviour with the moral order of man and woman and thus gives it
moral sanction as well as legal recognition. Social and environmental factors cause
some to be more inclined to lie/steal/murder more than others, but our legislation
should not and does not justify such activity. This year however a miniscule,
powerful gay community, whose sole common denominator is their sexual
behaviour, has been granted special rights.

The Preamble to the Irish Constitution reminds us that the State is accountable to
God; Article 6 declares that its powers are derived “under God.” The moral law in
Leviticus, the cornerstone of western civilization for centuries, condemns
homosexuality as an “abomination” and perversion of the complimentary order of
man and woman. Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to smoke and ashes by God
for this sin in an act of judgment confirmed and commended by the Lord Jesus
Christ (Luke 17:29), the Apostle Peter (II Peter 2:6) and Jude (1:7). Accordingly, no
major religion has ever endorsed homosexual behaviour and no society has
embraced it with success. Furthermore the Apostle Paul described it as an “error”,
“not convenient” and, without repentance, “worthy of the judgment of God.”

This is perfectly in line with the effects of homosexuality. One of the earliest
recorded instances of homosexuality was between the Roman emperor Nero and
one of his male slaves, and such behaviour contributed to the downfall of the
Roman Empire. In the medical world, research shows a far higher rate of STDs and
AIDS among homosexuals, with homosexuals being the chief transmitters and
victims of this disease. Statistics released on 1st December last from St. James
Hospital in Dublin showed a 100% increase in the number of HIV cases among men
who engaged in homosexual activity. These figures reflect the self-destructive
nature of such a lifestyle, echoing Scripture’s definition of homosexuals as “abusers
of themselves” (I Corinthians 6:9). For the Irish State to promote such a lifestyle can
only have devastating consequences for every level of society.

The CP Bill is unconstitutional. Article 44.2.1 of our constitution guarantees

“freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion” to every
citizen. Section 23 of the Bill denies this, penalising civil registrars who fail to
comply with imprisonment and fines. This is a sinister infringement of a
constitutional right, discriminating against those who adhere to Christian beliefs,
and is a taste of what’s to come for those who dare to oppose the gay and lesbian
lobby.
The way that this Bill was handled speaks more of a totalitarian regime than a
democracy. It was pushed through in the dark with the majority of the public
unaware of its content or consequences. There was no debate or referendum. It was
the first legislation in two decades to be guillotined in the Seanad. Clearly this
legislation goes far beyond the point of legal recognition to a place where the
homosexual lifestyle will be imposed upon every level of society, incl. church, school
and family, as an unquestionably valid and alternative lifestyle.

The moral and economic welfare of a country are intrinsically linked. The CP Bill
signals a degeneration in Irish legislation of mammoth proportions. The joining in
hand of a powerful minority and a corrupt Dail may succeed in changing the letter
of the law, but the principles of decency and morality will continue to ring true in
the hearts of an honest, albeit intimidated, majority.