Strasbourg, 20 May 2015

Friday 22 May the Irish people is called to vote in a referendum on a possible amendment of the Constitution, which if adopted would redefine marriage from a legal point of view. If the constitutional amendment passes, the nature of civil marriage would profoundly change, as it would be possible to contract it by two persons without distinction as regards their sex.

FAFCE wishes to express its support to all the campaigners who have been working during the past months in favour of the natural institution of the marriage, based on the union between a woman and a man. In the context of a very unbalanced campaign they have been repeating a simple truth: Society needs to support the family, and children need a mother and a father; this does not mean discriminating against somebody, but searching for the common good.

The referendum campaign was discussed this week in Strasbourg during the Plenary Session of the European Parliament. The integrity of the Irish Referendum has been seriously compromised and a heavy concern for the respect of democratic values and freedom of expression was expressed. A group of MEPs also sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament on abuses around this referendum where substantial foreign funding has been used to swing the public opinion.

The Irish Constitution “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“. It also pays special attention to the essential role women play in Society, the Constitution “recognises that, by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved“. If the constitution was to be amended through the referendum it would become very contradictory.

Striving for the common good of Ireland and Europe, FAFCE will continue to work and to be present in the public debate, in order to support the natural society of the family, the first place of mutual love, based on the union of a woman and a man, in the best interest of children.

Contact: Maria Hildingsson, Secretary General

+32 4 70 20 39 18 info@fafce.org