Mary McAleese - Former President of Ireland - Why My Family is Voting YES to Marriage Equality 

We couldn't have asked for a better spokesperson nor for a more incisive speech. You GOT to love this woman !!

Absolutely. She really touched hearts and minds in SO many ways whilst in office and still. This speech was outstanding !! Great idea about delivering it to US Congress !

She would be an expert on Rear Gunners

Leave the priesthood ya libtard prick

The mother of a Pervert.

Agree TOTALLY

What exactly does gay marriage have to do with parents?

@@michaelwalsh9145 because no one should be decide to become a parent if they can't love their child unconditionally regardless of their skin colour or sexual orientation. That's why.

Totally agree man! Tears here too. God bless her!

She only jumped on the gay band wagon when her son came out, she hasn’t been able to shut up about it since.

yes, Yes, YES!!

Not only in Australia but so different parts of the world!! #VoteYes

Michael Barnett She's no longer our president, but still a very respected woman in our society. Our current president, thankfully, is just as passionate about gay rights as she is.

A completely useless woman that both her and her useless family live off the Irish Tax Payers.

rextrek Have you ever been to Saudi Arabia? Check it out.

no thank u - I don't go too or spend where Im not wanted

Good on ya pal!

freeloader

Sweeperboy No, her soul is black as coal. She is promoting sodomy & recently abortion, both of which are mortal sins.

John Mark yes but ireland were the first in the world to decriminalize it through a referendum which the people of the country voted for . Other countries it was passed directly by a government or through the courts

@@Liyl2K that's why he said Ireland made history. He understood the significance and the difference on the legalisation of SSM in the Republic of Ireland

Daniel Murray What risk? That, god forbid, a same sex couple might have a child?

raisinhead2 there we go, typical LGBT bigot. ... the risk was around surrogacy, but instead of addressing the question, in typical YES mentality, you presume homophobia in your answer. Also, a same sex couple can not have a child together ... that is just a fact. If you don't want to answer, don't, keep your dick head answers, which confirm the critisizm of the YES side's utter intolerance, even to questions... replace "head" with "brain" and your handle would suit you better. You people are so hypocritical and dishonest... you can't even answer a question. which makes me think you have and we will see everything the yes side said this was not about, being pushed for by the LGBT. So it is going to be about surrogacy is what I get from your response as you equate that with simply "having a child". By the way, my feeling re surrogacy about surrogacy itself. It's not a good thing to allow at all, and does commodity children and is a serious abuse of women. Look at how many third world women are used for this, their poverty is used to get them to rent out their body for 9 months ... it immoral in the extreme. Given the YES heads support bullying the elderly, lying and keeping the discussion as far away from what the actual proposition was about... expecting honesty and a straight answer shows my own idiocy, in even trying to ask. If the LGBT pushes for surrogacy for male couples, they will fall even lower in the minds of many people, like myself, who previously supported the movement.

Daniel Murray Based on social science and my personal experience in these matters, I don't see the risk, if done carefully and ethically. My comment was reasonable and justified. Your reply, actually was a bit hysterical. Given the long history of homophobia, and the unjustified linking of equal marriage to the issue of children then I would be justified in making the accusation based on your fairly intemperate reply. Same sex parents become parents in all kinds of ways, not just surrogacy. The debate about surrogacy and the laws that regulate it needs to be had. I would hope that same sex couples are treated equally in this regard. That is it. Thank you and good night.

raisinhead2 your response was not reasonable, it actually didn't even connect with what I said... it was a personal attack based on a question, one you didn't answer and completely avoided surrogacy. "Given the long history of homophobia, and the unjustified linking of equal marriage to the issue of children then I would be justified in making the accusation based on your fairly intemperate reply." So you think judging a person based on a historical fact, or that many people make a connection.. justifies you presuming that about someone specifically sking a question about surrogacy... you answered to this body of people you see, not to me. To jusge an individual by a group you suspect or think they belong to is prejudice. Given the fact I there has been massive intolerance from the yes side to questions and I mention that and to ask a question is to be called a homophobe, and the fact that you respond by effectively doing exactly that. I really can't see how you can justify your answer. I asked a question mentioned that asking questions gets one called a homophobe, and you called me a homophobe!!!! and you have the cheek to call my response historical... let's group judge, from people who say "it's about the right to love"... "you are stealing my right to be equal" "bully your granny"... anyone who questions is a homophobe, you have the right to marry, you have no right to call anyone hysterical. So, if the history of homophobia justifies attacking people who ask questions or have reservations, does the bullying and lying of the LGBT campaign mean LGBT should be presumed bullies and liars? that is your logic, or at least it is justifiable to treat them that way. The debate on surrogacy does have to happen, and as it is only even valid for male/female cases where there is a medical problem, i.e. to offset the result of a medical problem, and that being male or being female is not a medical problem and two people of the same sex not being able to reproduce togather is not a medical problem, why would they be treated the same? Two gay men can only have a child through surrogacy.... if that is treated like a medical problem, and having a family is a right of marriage, than the law will have to legislate around surrogacy as a right! This was a concern denied by the yes side... and you (plural) are still pussy footing around it. The moment the LGBT or similar push for this is the moment they will be exposed as liars, if they do not do this, they will prove they were telling the truth. That is balance, not bias.

Daniel Murray You mistake accusation of homophobia as something personal. Don't worry its not. Most people are. And even me, a bit. At times. Try not to freak out about that. For the sake of clarity. I would like laws on surrogacy in Ireland to treat all married couples the same. And I don't see risks in letting two men bring up a child. At all.

juicestoneful What I find interesting is that people tend to think "The Church" is the vatican or the priests and bishops or the buildings. But "The Church" is the believing people. What I see here is sensible smart Catholics like Mary McAleese reclaiming that label and speaking firmly and with conviction for the thing that Jesus Christ actually stands for. And that is love. I am not a believer myself but I applaud her and people like her for this.

Because her son hadn't come out when she was first elected as president. And when he did come out- because of discrimination, it's his choice for people to know not his mother's

Seriously Kevo. She was speaking at an engagement about the same sex marriage vote. Whatever engagement she is asked to speak at she will speak on that issue. She has spoken on the issue of homelessness many times during and after her tenure as president. Why would she talk about homelessness at this engagement? She has been outspoken on this issue before she even had kid's and about homelessness, unfairness in society and the need for better resources but clearly you haven't done any homework and just decided to go on a rampage for no reason. Do you work with homeless people, the vulnerable people in society? Don't come back with stats unless you are one of those stats. I suggest you go to different council estates and departments and watch the amount of people abusing the system and taken away services from people who really need them. There are many people in desperate situations because they were let down by the government but not everyone is homeless because the system failed them some are there because they abused all the help they were given. It's not always black and white. And as for the TD's having other homes- I think our government is well over payed but you can to police how people spend their money legally when it's earned legally. What about the landlords who aren't TD's and are abusing the market or the people who get rent allowance and choose not to pay their rent who has been on the increase during the pandemic because they know they can't be evicted. Too may people abuse the system and it's not just the wealthy. But back to matter at hand. If she was at a speaking engagement about homelessness would you be happy if she spent the whole time talking about same sex marriage? NO

Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, c but you will not always have me.” John 12:5-8

Because they never existed, people aren't interested in Big Daddy anymore, and they're not interested in a book of fantasies and disgusting quotes and rules.

You may hear with your ears but your heart is deaf and your soul dead. You are blind to the truth and ignorant of the facts. The woman was not only a Barrister-at-law but the President of our country. For You to say that SHE did not consider the central issue is so laughable it beggars belief. There is an old adage that says " better to remain silent and appear a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it!" I profer it to you for future reference my friend!

FACK YOU AND YOUR GOD