Religious faith is no obstacle to support for marriage equality

Ireland voted for same-sex marriage in a referendum because of, not despite, being a religious country



Ireland, an overwhelmingly Catholic country, voted Yes in its referendum on marriage equality in 2015. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images

Friday 18 November 2016 16.25 EST
Tiernan Brady
Tiernan Brady is the Executive Director of Australians for Equality. Previously he was the Political Director of Ireland's successful 'Yes' campaign for marriage equality. Previous to his campaign work Brady worked on policy for The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) and as Director of Organisation for the Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste) of Ireland, Mary Coughlan from 2000 to 2007 as well as holding the office of mayor of his hometown, Bundoran.

When Ireland voted for marriage equality it would be fair to say that many people across the world were a little surprised. I know in Ireland we see ourselves as a modern dynamic and innovative country which is at the forefront of the world’s digital and pharmaceutical industries, but across the world most people still think of Ireland as a deeply religious Catholic country, a land of churches and tradition. Indeed, it is still hard to find a Hollywood film where the priest does not have an Irish accent.

The truth, as is usually the case in life, is that a little bit of both images are true. Ireland is a religious country and has the second highest regular church attendance in Europe after Poland. It has found a way to marry dynamism and tradition.

So how could this country of deep faith so enthusiastically vote for marriage equality for lesbian and gay people and become the first country in the world to do so? The truth is we supported marriage equality not in spite of, but because of the values our faith raised each of us in.

The same is true in Australia. Poll after poll shows the majority of Australian people of faith are in favour of marriage equality. The old argument of gay versus God is bogus. It is not a choice of picking one or the other and the members of churches see that.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/19/religious-faith-is-no-obstacle-to-support-for-marriage-equality