Conservative Roman Catholics hate Pope Francis because he loves Jesus more than power. And now “Catholic” Ireland has led the way for freedom and human rights on marriage equality, not because of but in spite of Church teaching and political power.

Ireland is “the” Church. Rather Ireland was the Roman Catholic Church. Now it’s a free country. The Church approved, aided and abetted abusers of thousands of children for decades in Ireland, the domestic abuse and virtual slavery of women, the oppression of an entire society- for centuries. Now the canary in the mine has died. As goes Ireland so will go the Church.

What you just heard was the snap of the last vestige of Roman Catholic Church “moral” authority…

R.I.P Catholic neocons! (And good riddance.)

As the New York Times notes:

Ireland became the first nation to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote, sweeping aside the opposition of the Roman Catholic Church in a resounding victory Saturday for the gay rights movement and placing the country at the vanguard of social change. With the final ballots counted, the vote was 62 percent in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, and 38 percent opposed. The turnout was large — more than 60 percent of the 3.2 million eligible voters cast ballots, and only one district out of 43 voted the measure down.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer. His latest book —WHY I AM AN ATHEIST WHO BELIEVES IN GOD: How to give love, create beauty and find peace

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