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The Two Sides
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"This referendum, at one level, is simple: It's about extending civil marriage to same sex couples," said Michael Barron, the Founding Director of BeLonG To, a national organization for LGBT youth. "However, it means so much more. It means creating a fair and equal Ireland for this generation and future generations of young people. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a giant leap forward to change forever what it means to grow up LGBT in Ireland."The Catholic Church has voice support for a No vote, with a bishop writing a public letter emphasizing that "the union of a man and a woman is quite different from the union of two men or two women. Also backing the No vote are groups like Mothers and Fathers Matter and Lawyers for No.The No campaign has concerned itself with marriage as a institution innately tied to family and the raising of children. This is something that the Yes campaign tends to view as sidestepping the issue, given that gay and lesbian couples can already adopt in Ireland. The No campaign has been openly supported by respected sportsman and high profile GAA footballer Ger Brennan and journalist Paddy Manning, who is himself gay."This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a giant leap forward to change forever what it means to grow up LGBT in Ireland." –Michael Barron
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A Changing Ireland
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The Church's standing has come under serious attack in recent years, at least partially due to the scandalous revelations of priest pedophilia and child abuse cover-ups. The institution that was at the heart of the Irish state and community saw it's credibility quickly erode. Rural communities, where the Church still has it's most committed attendees, are more likely to vote No than urban centers like Dublin."A No vote is the only way… to protect a child's right to a mother and a father in laws relating to adoption, surrogacy, and donor-assisted human reproduction." —Tom Finegan