Press release from The Iona Institute 

Proposed redefinition of the family attacks the rights of children

On ‘This Week’ on RTE today, Tanaiste Joan Burton clearly demonstrated that she and the Government attach no special value to a child enjoying the love of both a mother and a father.

Pressed by presenter Richard Crowley as to whether or not, all things being equal, she believes it is best for a child to be raised by a mother and a father, she said “the critical thing is for a child to be brought up by parents who love them”.

Commenting on this, Dr John Murray of The Iona Institute said: “The Tanaiste showed today what we have been saying all along, namely that when you redefine marriage you radically redefine the family and you redefine the very meaning of parenthood.

“The Government no longer believes there is any special value in a child having the love of their own mother and father, or any mother and father. They believe the sexes are completely interchangeable and that men and women bring nothing special and distinct to the lives of their children.”

He continued: “It is also clear that the Government attaches little or no importance to the ties of flesh and blood. Clearly two men or two women raising a child cannot both be the biological parents of the child. Only one can be. Obviously children can be well loved by non-biological parents, but most people rightly believe that children ought to be raised where possible by their own mother and father and only circumstance should ever interfere with this.

“The Government is therefore carrying out a radical transformation of our view of the family. This is being done via the proposed amendment to the Article in the Constitution dealing with the family, via the Children and Family Relationships Act, and via the planned surrogacy law”.

He concluded: “We hope that by May 22 it will be abundantly clear to the public that the Government no longer believes in the special value of having a loving mother and father and no longer believes the natural ties are of real value. This amounts to a very far-reaching attack on the rights of children. If the public realises what is really on offer, they will vote No on referendum day.”

ENDS