gunsynd: Fine thanks and fair point:-)
Glad to hear you are doing fine. Anything nice planned for the rest of your day?
adaliabooks: Yeah, it had to be a referendum because there was a definition of a family in the constitution that needed to be amended, and to do that requires a referendum.
As far as I'm aware it works the same and It's up to the church whether they wish to perform ceremonies or not. Which makes sense, I know I wouldn't want someone who disapproved of my relationship afficiating my wedding.
But I do strongly disagree with people being able to refuse to serve others based on their religious beliefs.
Ah, I forgot that Ireland had a constitution. The UK doesn't have one (which for some reason annoys the hell out of the EU), so we don't have to do referendums for things like that. We have more than enough laws in place that would make a constitution irrelevant for us.
adaliabooks: But I do strongly disagree with people being able to refuse to serve others based on their religious beliefs.
I am not sure I 100% agree with this. I agree in a way, and I know where you are coming from, but how is forcing a religion to abide by your way of thinking any different from them trying to make you abide by theirs? As long as people can get married legally via a registrar and that will be recognised by the country's government, then I think the churches are free to refuse if they believe it is against their religion. Freedom and equality works both ways, not just when it suits one party.
ElTerprise: Yes - that's exactly what i meant. Possible that i wasn't very clear with my wording...
That actually reminds me of a german idiom: "Warum einfach, wenn es auch kompliziert geht" which basically means Why do something the simple way when you can do it the complicated way ;) (it loses in translation obviously)
I guess we will just have to wait for the "Good New" announcement. :-)