Catholic Church Must End Campaign of Villification

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Friday August 01, 2003 14:47 by Justin Moran - Sinn Féin maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Catholic Church Must End Campaign of Villification

Catholic Church Must End Campaign of Villification



Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs Seán Crowe TD has slammed the Catholic Church’s statement attacking gay marriages. In a strongly worded statement Deputy Crowe described the Church’s comments as ‘reactionary and homophobic’ and called on the Church to end ‘its campaign of vilification’ against homosexuals and same-sex marriages.

The Dublin South-West TD said: "The reactionary and homophobic teachings of the Catholic Church on this issue are the real threat to society, not same-sex marriages. Sinn Féin fully supports the right of same-sex couples to marry and adopt children and calls on the Government to introduce legislation to this effect, which we would be happy to support.

"For the Church to suggest that allowing children to be adopted by gay couples is tantamount to acts of violence against children is especially nauseating, coming as it does from an organisation whose institutionalised cover-ups of terrible acts of violence against children leaves it with no credibility on this issue.

"It is long past time the Catholic Church started embracing positive social change and ended its campaign of vilification against homosexuals." ENDS