The “family” referendum proposes to amend article 41.1 of the Constitution to expand State recognition of the family as founded not only on marriage but also on “other durable relationships”.

“Ireland is holding a referendum [tomorrow ] March 8—International Women’s Day—which, if the governing parties have their way, will mean the word “mother” is removed from Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Irish Constitution.

Article 41.2.2 currently says that the State shall “endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.” This line has been in the Constitution since its creation in 1937, but would be deleted in its entirety. Also up for deletion is the preceding article, which says, “the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.” New wording has been proposed to replace it: “The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.” 

Other changes on the ballot affect definitions of marriage and the family. The words highlighted in italics would be inserted into Article 41.1.1: “The State recognises the Family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society.” Article 41.3.1, meanwhile, would see the following words in italics deleted: “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.” First Things readers can remind themselves of the background to these changes here.” — First Things Magazine

Lies

“The national broadcasting network, RTE, recently aired a documentary claiming that until the 1970s, women were “defined as chattels” in the Constitution (which is, of course, false—the program was later removed from RTE’s streaming service). How many times, one wonders, can people be expected to assent to the proposition that the country their parents and grandparents created and inhabited was an utter horror show?”