Madam, - I would like to respond to some of the criticisms of my letter of last Wednesday printed in this newspaper since then. The entire debate on same-sex marriage/civil unions hinges on the nature and purpose of marriage as a social institution. I emphasise the words "a social institution".
Historically and cross-culturally marriage has been given certain social, legal and financial privileges not enjoyed by other family forms. Is this merely discrimination, or has it a rational basis? I firmly believe it has a rational basis.
To repeat the point I made in my letter last week, marriage is given these privileges, and accordingly has the status of a social institution, because of children and because of the fact, based on the evidence, that children tend to do better when raised by their biological mother and father, and also that marriage is far more stable than cohabitation.
It's true, as several correspondents have pointed out, that marriage is not all about children. Obviously it should be a loving commitment between two adults committed to each other for life.
But if we decide that the main reason why we support marriage is not children, but adults, then why restrict its benefits to loving sexual relationships? Why not give them to any two (or more?) adults in non-conjugal loving relationships?
In fact, it is the position of The Iona Institute, as outlined in our recent position paper, "Domestic Partnerships", that a certain set of legal protections, for example a right to apply for maintenance and a property settlement in the event of a relationship break-up, should be given to all couples in loving, dependent relationships whether conjugal or not.
However, the most important public purpose of marriage cannot be lost sight of, and that public purpose is the support of children. Those who want to deny the claim, based on much evidence, that children tend to do best with a married mother and father, have a big task ahead of them.
No doubt this vital debate will continue, as it must, and hopefully it will have the effect of focusing minds once again on the most important reason why marriage is supported by society and the State. - Yours, etc,
TOM O'GORMAN,
The Iona Institute,
23 Merrion Square,
Dublin 2.