sold wrote: » Good to see the church finally take a stance!, Rev Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, told an Irish parliamentary committee on Wednesday that "a Catholic can, without reserve and in good conscience, vote Yes for the Lisbon Treaty"
Corkfeen wrote: » Can't really see the churches stance changing most irish peoples opinion tbh.This may apply for older irish people I guess though. If we want to vote yes, we'll vote yes, vice versa. This may apply for older irish people I guess though
Euro_Kraut wrote: » Just to be clear the Catholic Church is not advising people to vote Yes, rather they have stated that a Yes vote does not conflict with Catholicism. Its a kick in the teeth for Coir. Good.
Lisbon 'fine by us' says bishop It is not clear how far EU "guarantees" will sway Irish Catholics A senior Irish Catholic bishop has said Roman Catholics can vote "Yes" to the Lisbon Treaty "in good conscience". The EU treaty does not affect the legal position of abortion in the Republic of Ireland, Bishop Noel Treanor said. Ireland's rejection of the treaty in a referendum last year was attributed in part to voters' concern that Lisbon might soften Irish anti-abortion laws. A second Irish referendum will take place on 2 October. Nearly all the 27 EU member states have ratified Lisbon. Rev Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, told an Irish parliamentary committee on Wednesday that "a Catholic can, without reserve and in good conscience, vote Yes for the Lisbon Treaty"."There are no grounds to justify a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty on the basis of specifically religious or ethical concerns. "The Lisbon Treaty does not alter the legal position of abortion in Ireland. This is further assured by the legal guarantees (which will become protocols) secured by the Irish government," he said. Official Church position Bishop Treanor told the committee he had represented the Irish Bishops' Conference in Brussels for almost 20 years and was speaking with the support of Catholic primate Cardinal Sean Brady. Since the last referendum the EU has provided legally binding "guarantees" that Lisbon will not affect Irish sovereignty over taxation, "family" issues - such as abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage - and the traditional Irish state neutrality. Polls suggest most Irish voters will back the treaty second time round. All EU member states must ratify the treaty for it to come into force. The treaty is aimed at streamlining EU institutions, to improve decision-making in the enlarged 27-member bloc. Opponents say it undermines national sovereignty and concentrates too much power in Brussels.
I begin by echoing that conviction. I state unequivocally that a Catholic can, without reserve and in good conscience, vote ‘Yes’ for the Lisbon Treaty. There are no grounds to justify a ‘No’ vote in the Lisbon Treaty on the basis of specifically religious or ethical concerns.
ei.sdraob wrote: Why do I imagine Coir now starting their own sect? thinks of mormons going door to door
humanji wrote: » With their methods, I'd say they'd be better compared with Scientology. To be honest, I kind of assume many old and religious people may now vote Yes because they see it as being what their church wants which, to me, is just as bad as voting No for the same reason.
Kev_ps3 wrote: » A foreign power endorsing another foreign power in our small country! Get them all out!!
vanla sighs wrote: » Really? Hmmm, the Catholic church has never once said it backs Lisbon. It said Catholics can vote yes for it if they want, they didn't say vote yes.
vanla sighs wrote: » UKIP aren't. The Freedom & Democracy political grouping are. You really do need to check your facts.
vanla sighs wrote: » Hmmmm? Isn't this off topic? It's on page 1 of this thread.
