• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar speaks to media at the central count center in Dublin Castle Oct. 27, 2018, about results of that year's Irish presidential election and a blasphemy referendum. In 2024, voters will have to decide on a proposed referendum to the constitution to provide for a wider concept of family and also delete a provision on the role of stay-at-home mothers in favor of recognizing overall caregiving. (OSV News photo/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters)

Proposed referendum for Irish Constitution calls for widening the definition of family

December 6, 2023
By Michael Kelly
OSV News
Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

DUBLIN (OSV News) — A pro-family campaign group has warned that a proposed March referendum in Ireland to amend the country’s constitution would be a “further downgrading of the importance of marriage to society.”

The Irish government announced Dec. 5 that it intended to ask the people next year to amend the 1937 document to provide for a wider concept of family and further to delete a provision on the role of stay-at-home mothers in favor of recognizing overall caregiving instead.

David Quinn, director of the Iona Institute, a pro-family think-tank, told OSV News that while he would like more time to study the exact proposed working, “our initial response is that we would see the rewording of the section on the family to include relationships other than marriage as a further downgrading of the importance of marriage to society, indicating that the state does not see any special value in the institution of marriage.”

Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar announced Dec. 5 that if the referendum passes, the document will change the definition of the family to being either “founded on marriage or on other durable relationships.”

It’s further proposed to remove the reference to marriage as the one on which the “family is founded.”

In a separate vote, citizens will be asked whether they want to delete the so-called “mothers in the home” section where the document currently “recognizes that by her life within the home, woman gives to the state a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.”

The Irish Constitution obliges the government to “endeavor to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home.”

However, if passed, the referendum would delete this and instead recognize “that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved and shall strive to support such provision.”

Quinn also had reservations about this proposal.

“We note that the proposed replacement to the section on mothers in the home, no longer mentions the home at all. This seems highly significant. Why not mention the home? The government could make the language in this section gender neutral but still give special mention to the home and its value to people,” said the director of the Iona institute.

“But this fits in with the overall government philosophy which seems to prioritize the economy over the home and wishes as many people as possible to become members of the workforce and taxpayers,” Quinn warned.

Both votes are due to be held March 8, traditionally International Women’s Day. In 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage after voters opted by a 2-1 majority to redefine marriage in the constitution as between two people “without distinction as to their sex.”

Read More World News

When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing?

NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization

Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack

Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served

Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

Copyright © 2023 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Michael Kelly

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

| Latest Local News |

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

| Latest World News |

When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing?

NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization

Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack

Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • A sower of light in the shadows
  • When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing?
  • Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization
  • Creation, human and divine
  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best
  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith
  • Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack
  • Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served
  • Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en