Marriage referendum

Sir, – Conor Martin comments (February 7th) that "nobody gets married simply because the other person is of a different sex or has the ability to have children." Really? – Yours, etc,

JACK MORRISSEY,

Dublin 16.

A chara, – David J Strahan (February 6th) argues, as do others, that the upcoming referendum on marriage equality will redefine marriage. Surely the existence of civil marriage for heterosexual couples, and removed from any religious trappings or meanings, has already done this. I would suggest that nothing fundamental will be happening when the right to civil marriage is extended to all of our population. If the referendum is passed, the broader question for people of faith must surely be that this State no longer prefers or gives special consideration to marriage as defined by the Catholic Church or indeed any other religion. This is in my eyes what separation of church and state looks like and indeed it is why I will be voting Yes. – Yours, etc,

READ MORE

SÉAMUS McMENAMIN,

An Uaimh,

Co na Mhí.