Ireland has a much higher suicide rate than was once the case. It is something we worry about as a nation. And yet at the same time we are having two national conversations which could well have the effect of ‘normalising’ suicide. One is the conversation about assisted suicide and the other is the conversation...
The Iona Institute has long argued that the logic of the equality argument when applied to the family is that no particular kind of family should be granted any special standing whatever, including marriage whether same-sex or opposite-sex. It appears that one the great doyennes of family diversity ideology, Professor Judith Stacey, agrees. In a...
This week’s ruling in Scotland which found in favour of two midwives who insisted on their right to conscientiously object to taking any part in the abortion process is one that should be welcomed by all who think this freedom is important, whatever their views on abortion itself. The two women, Mary Doogan and Concepta...
Much has been written about the growing “marriage gap” in the US. Data increasingly shows that those in lower social groups are experiencing both higher levels of marital breakdown and lower rates of marriage overall. The same applies here Meanwhile, those who have third level education have seen marriage breakdown stabilise. Washington Post writer...
In a number of our publications, including our submission to the Constitutional Convention on the issue of marriage, we have used (among other quotes) a very serviceable one from Child Trends, a US-based NGO. The quote is taken from a document called ‘Marriage from a Child’s Perspective: How Does Family Structure Affect Children, and What...
David Quinn represented the Iona Institute at the Constitutional Convention last week. He took part in a panel discussion and explained why the distinctive nature of male/female sexual unions justifies a special and distinct social institution. A video of the panel discussion can be found here (or simply click on the image above). David’s contributions...
When the Constitutional Convention voted in favour of same-sex marriage at the weekend, Ireland took a step closer to rejecting the right of a child to have the love of both a mother and a father where such are available. The Convention heard a great deal about the love two men or two women can...
The Constitutional Convention debates same-sex marriage this weekend. In my Irish Independent column this week I set out the argument for not redefining marriage. The core question for the delegates: do they believe there are real and complementary differences between men and women and mothers and fathers that should be embodied in a distinct and...
A story from the UK last week suggested that by the time they reach 14, nearly all boys have accessed pornography. While we don’t know the figures here, we can be sure that it is a growing problem in Ireland too. It is in this context that the controversy over the SpunOut website, which described threesomes...
Are there any real differences between men and women apart from the obvious, physical ones, or have the differences all to do with the way we’re formed by society? This article by Professor William Reville in the Irish Times the other day sets out the precise scientific basis for why the sexual differences between men...
