Maman Poulet

The Irish Catholic reports (not sure of publication date) that there is growing support for a concientious objector or ‘religious freedom’ amendment to the Civil Partnership Bill. (h/t Ian)

Amongst the TD’s quoted as being supportive are Mattie McGrath (FF – Tipperary South) and Lucinda Creighton (FG Dublin South East)

Irish Catholic editor (and former Vatican Radio staffer) Michael Kelly writes that Creighton supports such an amendment and that there are several other FG TD’s in support of it.  There are lots of lesbians and gay men living and voting in Dublin South East (Ranelagh, Rathmines, Donnybrook, etc.) and you may feel the urge to respectfully contact Ms. Creighton (lucinda.creighton (@) oireachtas.ie) and tell her that there is no need for such an amendment and that this issue has nothing to do with religion.  No amendments have been published yet by the way. We’ll have to wait for the second stage to proceed on Thursday.

Labour are against including an amendment protecting registrars but say

”In general, the Labour Party would not support any measure that requires a religious organisation to be involved in any activity that is in conflict with its ethical position.”

Eh? It’s Civil Partnership.  However I’m sure they are referring to the church hall committee ruse.  Now if that parish hall has been in receipt of state funds and provides those facilities for groups that have nothing to do with religion I don’t see how it should be permitted to stop people using it for celebrations but I don’t think there is going to be massive queues to book the hall for a CP party.

I assumed the Labour Party won’t be supporting any amendment aimed at ‘protecting’ bigotry from an organisation or individual.  I’m sure that assumption is correct.

8 Comments »

The Second Stage Debate for the Civil Partnership Bill will take place on December 3rd at 6.45pm and is scheduled to take two hours.  There will be Committee and Report stages scheduled at a later date.  (This is where the opposition and sometimes government propose amendments to the Bill.)

Thursday night means a load of TD’s will have gone home early so there might be a load of welcome pairings for the uncomfortable.

December 3rd is the date of the next National Strike. I don’t know what impact that will have on access to the Public Gallery(and for the picket non passers amongst you!) but I will check out over the next few days. If you want to go watch the debate you can contact your local TD and try asking for a ticket in.  (Email list of TD’s is available here.)

————

Family Solidarity are warning Catholic TD’s to vote ala Catholic and against the bill rather than ala carte.   They have a moral duty to do so it seems.

Ah Family Solidarity who spent much of the early 90’s being fascinated with men’s back passages  (anti sodomy group who published The Homosexual Challenge: Analysis and Response in 1990.)

————

I’m not sure how I feel about the Civil Partnership Bill and the way it’s being referred to with respect to the Murphy Commission into child sexual abuse in the Dublin Diocese.

Ciaran Cuffe TD. yesterday said that

“The Catholic Church must question its whole approach to sexuality in the light of Judge Murphy’s Report.

“At a time when members of the Catholic Church hierarchy are actively campaigning against the Civil Partnership Bill being brought before the Dáil next week, there must be a pause for reflection within the Catholic Church, and a more concerted effort to protect the vulnerable.”

Let’s leave the lesbians and gays out of any mention regarding the horrendous crimes committed by priests and the mental reserved hierarchy I think. By even mentioning the Church you give them recognition of being involved in what is a civil matter and then there’s the whole matter of comparing church teaching on homosexuality and the matter of paedophilia and violence against children.

I’ve no doubt many people are delighted that the Church has been shown to be such a corrupt organisation and has no part to be involved in pronouncement on human rights and equality issues but it’s not sitting right  with me to bring it into this matter.

: analysis and response. Publisher Dublin : Family Solidarity, 1990. Description 64 p. ; 22 cm.

4 Comments »

Press Release in from Green Party – note the mention of the possiblity of a freedom of concience amendment.

Cuffe welcomes introduction of Civil Partnership Bill to Dáil

-Bill will be introduced next Thursday
The Green Party has welcomed the news that the Civil Partnership Bill is to be introduced to the Dáil next week. Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe TD said the Bill will be introduced by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform next Thursday and rejected calls for a religious ‘freedom of conscience’ opt-out amendment to be included.

Deputy Cuffe said: “I’m pleased to see the Government taking this important next step in creating legislative rights and responsibilities for loving gay and lesbian couples, for whom Civil Partnerships will be of huge practical benefit.

“The Bill is a key legislative priority for the Greens in Government and I look forward to its speedy passage and cross party support.

“I’m aware of calls for a ‘freedom of conscience’ amendment to be stitched into the legislation to give people a religious ‘opt-out’ in providing everyday goods and services to gay couples. Such an amendment is not the way to go. It would undermine much of our existing equality legislation and would have significant unintended consequences.”

2 Comments »

The Green Party have confirmed that the Civil Partnership Bill will be brought before the Dáil on Thursday December 3rd. I’ll confirm the time as soon as I can and have details of online coverage.  No doubt the announcements of the pickets etc. will also follow.

5 Comments »

Overheard from the Equality and Rights Alliance Conference yesterday which I couldn’t attend – from one of the speakers Niall Crowley.

It pretty much sums up this week, month and year for me.

No Equality,

Attack the public services,

Mend the banks,

Annihilate the community sector

(PS: Outside the Box on RTE Radio 1 covered the Equality Agenda and Disability Issues last week  – quite a bit of  spin and revisioning – Real Player required)

1 Comment »

If you are a regular reader you know the drill by now – The Donegal News arrives in the house and  I get bits read out to me and eventually I go ‘WHAT?!’

This weeks ‘gem’  in the court reports is on page 30 of last Friday’s edition.

Footage of street row ‘disappeared ‘ from phone.

A District judge dismissed the public order charges against a Letterkenny resident upon hearing that video evidence filmed by the defendant had disappeared from his movile phone while in garda custody.

Edidjus Morkuna (27) …who represented himself was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place, failing to comply with a direction given by a member of the Garda Siochana and wilful obstruction.

The defendant was arrested after coming across Gardai arresting other members sof the Lithuanian community in Letterkenny last month.

‘There is a small community of Lithuanians here in the town and we know each other well., so when we saw some of friends on Main Street after leaving Sister Sara’s, we went over to say hello.

I then saw that one of our Lithuanian friends was being arrested so I decided to film the arrest with my mobile phone just in case it would be needed as evidence.

I was told to ‘get the f*** out of here with your mobile phone’, they then grabbed and handcuffed me and put me into the Garda van.

As I was sitting in the van, I heard someone walking past and I asked if they could loosen the handcuffs as they were really hurting me. I was told to ‘f*** off’ and ’shut up’.

‘The Gardai then took me to the station where I told them that I had chest pain and my wrists were sore and I asked them for a doctor.

I also asked them where my phone was, it was not mentioned in the custody record. When I was released they told me ‘You can go and see a doctor now’ and as I went outside a Garda came out of the darkness and gave me back my mobile phone.

The footage I had filmed was no longer on it. It I was guilty  of the offences I am charged with the footage would have shown it.’ said Morkunas.

Garda O’ Mahony told the court he ‘believed’ the defendant was filming, upon being questioned by the judge who said ‘You took an oath to tell the whole truth, why did you not mention this before?’.

The Garda then replied that he ‘was not aware’ if Morkunas had been filming or not and that it wasn’t the offence that he had been arrested for.

Judge Kilrane again asked Garda O’Mahony why he had not told him that the defendant had been filming the his evidence. The Garda said he had ‘no reason’. Dismissing the case, Judge Kilrane said he expects ‘the whole truth’ and not parts to be ‘left out’.

Is this stuff happening everywhere in the country regularly? Am I wrong to be surprised reading it?

The story below this on page 30 was about someone who ‘Tried to frustrate Garda procedure by wetting himself’.  I’ll leave that one alone.

8 Comments »

The emails and letters to Oireachtas members in advance of the debate on the Civil Partnership Bill continue (#cpbill) to be sent my way.

Renew as you may remember is the new ‘national’ organisation campaigning for lots of ‘down with that sort of thing’ vigour. It would seem however that many of their emails landed in the spam folders of the TD’s they emailed on Friday. (oops many apologies to the Deputies who might get these resent to them)

Dear Deputy,

RENEW is calling for the scrapping of the Civil Partnership Bill for the following reasons:-

1. It’s unconstitutional because it’s against Article 41 of the Irish Constitution. Article 41 states that ” The State recognises the family as the natural, primary and fundamental unit of society, and a moral institution. The State guarantees to protect the family because it is the necessary basis of social order and indispensable to the welfare of the nation and the State.

2. Making laws that recognise same-sex unions is legislating for immoral, perverse and deviant behaviour.

3. This Bill contradicts right reason because it is not in accordance with the natural moral law.

4. Therefore this Bill is not legitimate since it fails to recognise the inalienable and imprescriptible right of every human being.

5. It is grossly unjust and immoral because it is so harmful to the common good.

6. It is a blatant attack on Marriage and Family Life.

The government and the opposition parties assured the people that the “guarantees” secured by the government ensured that there could be no undermining of the Constitutional protections for the family and human life.

We call on you as our public representative to see that this Bill is scrapped and show the people that they were right to trust the government to protect the family founded on Marriage since this was one of the issues many people voted NO too in Lisbon 1, then voted YES in Lisbon 2 because of the guarantees.

We are asking you to respond to us via email at info@renewcampaign.com and outline your position on the Civil Partnership Bill.

Yours Sincerely,

Mary Doherty
RENEW

All examples of literature for and against deviance and natural moral law the bill are very welcome to tips(@)mamanpoulet.com

4 Comments »

According to today’s Observer, the European Commission has told the UK Government that it must change a new Equality Law as the exemption proposed for Religious bodies contravenes ‘an EU directive prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of a person’s sexual orientation.’

The law allowed religious groups to discriminate against gay employees “so as to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion’s followers”.

Where does this leave Section 37 (i) of the Employment Equality Act in Ireland?

Section 37 (i) of the Employment Equality Act, 1998, 2004 states:

—————————-
A religious, educational or medical institution which is under the direction or control of a body established for religious purposes or whose objectives include the provision of services in an environment which promotes certain religious values shall not be taken to discriminate against a person for the purposes of this Part or Part II if—

a)    it gives more favorable treatment, on the religion ground, to an employee or a prospective employee over that person where it is reasonable to do so in order to maintain the religious ethos of the institution, or

b)    it takes action which is reasonably necessary to prevent an employee or a prospective employee from undermining the religious ethos of the institution.

Has the Commission examined the act? Whilst the section has yet to be interpreted by the Equality Tribunal or the courts, it is one of most contentious pieces of legislation amongst lesbians and gay men in Ireland. Especially amongst lgbt teachers.

And what of the religious groupings and their call for an amendment to Civil Partnership legislation to permit conscientious objection?

Update

Ian in the comments has found the story saying that the European Commisison believes that the Employment Equality Act ethos opt-out by religious institutions is broad enough for the Commission to drop their objection.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Brussels says churches must lift ban on employing homosexuals (guardian.co.uk)

4 Comments »

Tonight watching X Factor and reading my twitter stream I saw a few too many jokes about Susan Boyle’s mental health and intellectual disability.

Some people seem to have found other people’s jokes funny too and retweeted them. Colm O’ Gorman, (Bio: Author, activist, director of Amnesty International Ireland) for one.

And people wonder why some in the disability community view Amnesty Ireland’s campaign on Mental Health issues with more than a bit of cynicism?

Stunned and very disappointed.

Update:

Colm has responded in the comments and has also blogged on the matter on his own blog.

13 Comments »

Catching up on Civil Partnership related news…

Confirmed in a question to An Taoiseach on Tuesday by Eamon Gilmore, leader of the Labour Party. Note the dig by Dermot Ahern.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Does the Taoiseach have an update on when the civil partnership Bill will be before the House?

The Taoiseach: Hopefully, the first week in December.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I look forward to the Minister’s opening speech.

Deputy Dermot Ahern: Does the Deputy have a marriage coming up?

Just in time for the Civil Partnership Train?!

Yes it seems a group of lgbt (church?) activists from Northern Ireland are taking the train from Belfast to Dublin on December 5th.

The idea of a Civil Partnership Train also recalls a travel related equality case taken against the Irish government in 2003. The Irish state’s Department of Social and Family Affairs, following the intervention of the state’s Equality Authority, agreed to issue a Free Travel Pass to a partnered gay man. However, the following year in 2004 the then Minister for Social and Family Affairs brought in new legislation to specifically exclude same-sex couples from such benefits although they are available to unmarried heterosexual couples. The four objectives of the Civil Partnership Train are to encourage the Irish Government to:

IMPLEMENT fully the Good Friday Agreement in the Republic of Ireland and to meet its commitment in the Agreement to provide in the Republic “at least an equivalent level of protection of human rights as will pertain in Northern Ireland”.

UPGRADE the Civil Partnership Bill to provide parenting rights for gay and lesbian couples equal with those in Northern Ireland.

INCLUDE in the Bill recognition of widowed same-sex partners who obtained their Civil Partnership overseas or in Britain or Northern Ireland since 2005.

STOP the proposed amendment to the Bill for an anti-gay opt-out on the grounds of ‘Christian conscience’. The proposed opt-out was not conceded in Northern Ireland.

I’m wondering why they are coming here and not encouraging people to go up there? Maybe they are worried Mary Coughlan would be giving out for encouraging people to do their shopping!

Can we expect an accompanying lobby for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to raise it at the next meeting between themselves and Minister Micheal Martin?

I do hope that there are very loud jeers towards Irish Rail (not at the ordinary staff mind) as the gang arrive! PS. The Department of Social Welfare office is very near the train station if you want to let the real source on the travel ban issue know how you feel!!

Finally I see Neil Ward has uploaded his speech on behalf of the NLGF at a debate at TCD on Tuesday night – again it’s not proposing partnership rights in line with the avoidance of the question in the organisations Burning Issues launch last week and probably in line with the motion for debate. Did that survey actually ask people about partnership rights? Or was it strictly marriage equality?

So who’s watching the actual bill which we may see debated in the week after next? Other than the main cheerleaders? And what briefings for Oireachtas members are LGB organisations preparing and can we see copies?

The events, protests, debates and media coverage of the bill whenever it reaches the Dail is going be liveblogged and covered extensively. Tag for tweets, flickr and posts #cpb ok?? Links to the liveblog will go live next week (complete with live pictures of the Dail debate all on the same page if we get a debate!)

UPDATE:

Tag suggested is now #cpbill due to other tag being used by other organisations/issues recently.

4 Comments »