The Iona Institute has appealed to Fine Gael not to cave in to Labour on same-sex marriage.
The Programme for Government (PfG) agreed by both parties commits the Government to bring forward proposals on the issue to a constitutional review body.
Commenting on the PfG, Dr John Murray of The Iona Institute said: ''Hopefully Fine Gael will not cave into Labour on this issue.
''As a matter of public policy, society and the State give marriage special status mainly because we want to encourage mothers and fathers to raise their own children."
''Permitting same-sex marriage would completely compromise this vital message. It would mean there is no longer any social institution aimed at encouraging men and women to raise their children. This would be a very retrograde step for the State to take and hopefully it won't take it.''
Dr Murray said: ''Furthermore, opposition to same-sex marriage will be denounced as bigotry as though it is 'bigotry' to believe that ideally a child should have a married mother and father.''
He concluded: ''Currently opinion polls indicate substantial support for same-sex marriage, but this support is likely to be soft and much of it would evaporate when the issue is properly debated.''
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