● I’m voting No After much reflection… I have made up my mind to vote No in the referendum on gay marriage. Many of my readers will be surprised, perhaps annoyed, to learn of my decision. They know me as a strong supporter of components of the Liberal Agenda, such as contraception, divorce, abortion and women’s liberation. And gay rights… The fact remains that gays have exactly the same rights under the law as everybody else. Crucially, they have the right to marry, albeit under the label of civil partnership. They have the right to adopt children… The referendum is therefore unnecessary. — James Downey, columnist, Irish Independent This should help you to persuade some yes voters, by showing them that gay people already have the right of civil partnerships and that there is no need to change the definition of marriage.
Thats very hopeful what you say Padraig, and I am sorry about your sister too, Lord have mercy on her. I am quietly hopeful too, I was just watching the last TV debate on it and we definitely won that. If we win this it will be the first referendum campaign won by a Belfast cake!lol
Padraig, My prayers will pour out on behalf of Ireland the next three days! Propaganda vs. prayer? I'll take prayer any day. The politicians have left this in the hands of the people. Let the saints of Ireland arise and trust in the Lord! May the Light of God blind JoeJerk this Friday! Yes, our God is not only Father, but Father Almighty! Alleluia! 1 Macc 3:17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas: How shall we, being few, be able to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, and we are ready to faint with fasting today? 18 And Judas said: It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few: and there is no difference in the sight of the God of heaven to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company: 19 For the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but strength cometh from heaven. 20 They come against us with an insolent multitude, and with pride, to destroy us, and our wives, and our children, and to take our spoils. 21 But we will fight for our lives and our laws: 22 And the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: but as for you, fear them not.
I suppose to be honest, Terry , I suspect a lot of this goes back to the child abuse crisis in the Church. The Church is like Samson when he got his hair cut off, she has lost her strength. It was the same at time of the Protestant so called, 'Reformation'. The Church had become so corrupt she opened the door to mass apostasy. Folks did not want to stay in a Church were the stink was so bad. It is as Jesus said, Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. We the Church in Ireland are the salt that has lost its flavour and is about to be cast under foot. The fact that the whole of the body in Ireland is going rotten is because we, its salt have lost our zing. Or to put it simply we stopped praying. We have no one to blame but ourselves and God is about to Judge us for it. ..and with water, lots and lots of water. August 19, 1985. Monday, Evening Virgin Mary said: “I have a message”. She then walked down steps to the edge of the water. “My message is Peace and Prayer…” She pointed to the creek: “Tell the people that the water is blessed.” “God is angry with the world. The people will have to improve and pray. My message is for all the people of God’s Church. The people have ten years to improve and pray and if not then this is what will happen…” The boys received a vision of the Great Flood and Noah’s Ark.
Separate topic but wanted to offer my condolences to Padraig for his sister. My mother at home in Ireland passed away next day 14may the Ascension. Far away here in Australia I have been praying for Ireland my home and in many ways my heart. An image constantly comes to my mind of the golden calf and disobedience of the Israelites. According to all the polls Ireland will be the first by popular vote to endorse Gay marriage. Those headlines are ringing around the world. Remember our Ladys request in Medjugorje (apologies if I offend anyone by stating my personal belief) tell the Irish people to be the messengers of my message! An extraordinary attack on Gods plan will not go unanswered. Blood moons upheavals plagues already old headlines. The signs of our times are now so clear. The new springtime of PJPII is dawning right before us. Am I alone in seeing the buds on the the trees? it is the happy begining of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. God bless all here. G'day crewdog from Aussie land,
@Torrentum I notice that the article reports that Enda led his supporters into oncoming traffic... ah when life imitates politics
I am praying for Ireland. I was there in the early 90's and can't believe the changes. It is such a spiritual battle you are facing. I remember here in Massachusetts being the first state in the USA to allow ssm. I was so embarrassed and shocked and angry. I was angry because we were never allowed to vote on it. The politicians against ssm were putting together some kind of bill that would allow we the people to vote in it. It seemed the bill was going to pass and we would be able to vote, but then at the last minute politicians flipped positions for political favors, and weird stuff like an older politician who was going to vote for the bill slipped that morning coming out of the shower and hit his head and could not vote. I remember at the time reading an article about all the stuff like that that went on last minute to kill the bill that would let the people vote on it and I remember thinking there is a tremendous spiritual war going on right now and we are seeing right in front of our eyes. Anyway, our prayers are with Ireland. I think the people who do not support ssm are laying really low now, so the vote may be a surprise. I hope so anyway. Let us pray...
Padraig, Though I've lifted the passages a little out of context, the question is if God will still consider the prayers of His remnant. After all, a large number of pilgrims to Medjugorje have been from Ireland. Daniel 9: 18 O my God, incline thy ear and hear; open thy eyes and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not present our supplications before thee on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of thy great mercy. 19 O LORD, hear; O LORD, forgive; O LORD, give heed and act; delay not, for thy own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name." Now in the United States, we have over a 50-yr. period in which we have embraced the contraceptive lifestyle, butchered babies within the womb, and now promote homosexual acts as wholesome and good enough to legitimize same-sex unions. I would tend to think that the USA's cup of wrath is overflowing, though I still beg for mercy! Ezek 22: 27 Her princes in the midst of her are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed for them with whitewash, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, `Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery; they have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without redress. 30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none. 31 Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; their way have I requited upon their heads, says the Lord GOD."
Constitutional change would give the powers that be more power, but even a NO outcome will only be damage limitation (albeit very necessary damage limitation). Even if the referendum is rejected I have no doubt whatsoever that the gov will introduce same sex "marriage" by way of legislation in the very near future. They will get their way come hell or high water (and in this case I think we can expect both!).
@Adoremus I do think you are correct that the government will push this through in any way they can. However, there is an important difference, in my opinion, between legislating against the will of the people, and the people enshrining this in the constitution. In the former case, the spirit of the community that is 'the people of Ireland' will not have turned their back on God and on reason and the remnant are still an active part of that community. In the latter case, the spirit of the community has abandoned the faith of their fathers; the remnant, though still counted among the members of the community, would be separated from the spirit of the community. I would think this distinction would be very important in terms of the judgement to be brought down on the nation as whole. My focus on the community and the spirit of the community is because I am reading some Edith Stein's philosophical works at the moment (which I hope I am interpreting correctly)! She has great insight into the relationship between individual and community. I think it has bearing on this issue. It's bad if it is brought into Ireland one way or another... but some ways are worse than others I think.
I completely agree. I'm interested in reading Edith Stein, what works are you reading re individual and community?
Her second work is called Philosophy of Psychology and the Humanities (PPH). It contains two treatises. The first (intended to be the philosophy to underpin psychology) focuses on the nature of the individual and the second focuses on the relationship between individual and community (intended to underpin the humanities). Her doctoral dissertation On the Problem of Empathy is also very relevant to community but doesn't focus on it; it really just lays some of the groundwork for it. I don't know what your experience of reading philosophical works is like... I had virtually no experience and found that it took me a long time get to grips with her thoughts and style of writing. Once I did though it was very much worth it. If you are going to read PPH there is a Steinian scholar in Ireland whose has written a guide to it. It is available here if you may need to refer to it. Best of luck with your reading
"The End of Civilization" http://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/the-vortexthe-end-of-civilization GOD SAVE US!!
As St. Patrick has said: 'those barbarians will not take her' ..well their closing in; defiling the truth; running amok: someone will have to step in and clean it up. God Bless!
Condolences on the loss of your mother, Ignacio, the heaviest Cross of all. Your post made me think of the Isrealites in the desert. and how God , like a good Father tried to put them back in the right path. One of the ways He did this was through direct spiritual intervention and He is currently doing this through the intervention of the Queen of Prophets sent from heaven, all over the world. However another way He corrected was through condign punishment ; through striking people dead en mass and we are off course heading towards this too. The three days of Darkness. Numbers 26:10 The Tribe of Reuben …9The sons of Eliab: Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who contended against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD, 10and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, so that they became a warning. 11The sons of Korah, however, did not die.
I truly regret not participating in either this discussion or this fine forum. For some while, I have had to keep my internet activity to an absolute minimum. Hopefully that situation is changing now and I am also resuming blogging. Right now, I just want to share with you a very striking, unusual strategy that a very special - I would say holy - priest here in Ireland recommended to me - Pray to the Guardian Angels of the Yes voters in Ireland or all voters … He has even composed a prayer for this intention. I made a pinnable graphic of it - and hope it might be pinned on Pinterest. (I also have more pins for this referendum at my Pinterest feed here: https://www.pinterest.com/rogerbuck94/pins/ It is just a feeling I have - but I think this prayer to the Guardian Angels of each Irish voter could be powerfully effective if prayed enough. Please share it widely if you agree with me.
Sorry to be repetitive, but I want to add this: Please - wherever you are on the planet - please pray for Ireland and Irish voters to do what is true and right over these next 36 hours. And please think of their Guardian Angels and consider praying to them.
Roger Its good to see you back posting. I hope you are keeping well. Your post is a confirmation for me as I have been praying to the Guardian Angels of the people of Ireland for the past 2 weeks. Also I pray to Victor the angel of Ireland. St Patrick dreamt of a young man calling him to come back to Ireland and his name was Victor. Tradition believes that he is the angel of Ireland. So yes I concur pray to the angels to protect all against the assaults of hell. Mary
