In the run-up to the 2007 General Election The Irish Catholic sent a questionnaire to the various political    parties asking them for their position on various social issues including the family and the right to life.

Last week I did a follow-up piece for The Irish Catholic and I compared what the two main parties promised then and what they have delivered since.

In light of the passage of the Civil Partnership Act what Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had to say back in 2007 is particularly interesting, and depressing, in light of their refusal to support a conscience clause. (For example, here is what FG said three years ago: ”The party believes in religious freedom, as guaranteed in the Constitution, which states that the free profession and practice of religion and available to every citizen”).

The article concludes: “The two main parties have held the line on faith-based schools despite ongoing pressure from those who denounce them as ”sectarian” although their future policy in this regard cannot be taken for granted.

On family policy they are far more ‘wobbly’ due to pressure from liberal/left opinion both within and without their own parties. They no longer defend the special status of marriage and there is a real danger that one or both parties will agree to a constitutional referendum to change the definition of the family.

With regard to religious freedom, the refusal to amend the Civil Partnership Bill to protect conscience tells its own story. They were willing to sacrifice this principle under pressure and may do so again in the future.

Finally, neither party has fulfilled its promise to protect human embryos from scientific research.”

Click here to download the relevant article in full.