Ireland: proposed constitutional changes on definition of family and role of women rejected, FAFCE is satisfied

“The Irish people have chosen to promote the family and protect womanhood at the referendums by rejecting the constitutional proposals”, said the President of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE), Vincenzo Bassi, welcoming the result of the Irish referendum and speaking of a return to “common sense”. 

Two questions were put to the popular vote: the first question proposed changing the definition of the family in the Constitution, currently based on marriage, by enlarging it to include all “durable relationships”. Which, according to FAFCE, was a “vague concept”. The question was indeed rejected by 67.69% of voters. The second question, known as the “care referendum”, proposed a second amendment to the Constitution by removing the reference to a woman’s work in the home as a good that cannot be provided by the State and as the freedom of women to work in the home. 73.93% of the vote was against the amendment. Mr Bassi spoke of a “shock result” and congratulated Family Solidarity, an association linked to FAFCE, which, together with the “Iona Institute and Lawyers For No”, supported the campaign for the repeal of the amendment. 

The President of the Irish Association, Angelo Bottone, expressed the hope that the Irish politicians “have heard the voices of families loud and clear. Instead of taking us for granted, they should pursue policies in favour of the family, mothers, and marriage”.