http://www.u.tv/News/2015/05/27/Vatican-Marriage-referendum-marks-a-defeat-for-humanity-37992

A senior cardinal in the Vatican has labelled Ireland’s decision to vote overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage “a defeat for humanity”. Archbishop Pietro Parolin (C), the Vatican's new Secretary of State, attends the Solemnity of Christ the King celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's square on November 24, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinal Pietro Parolin made the comments to reporters in Rome. ©Franco Origlia/Getty Images Share Share 25+shares Story by Anita McSorley @Anita_UTV Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state for the Vatican, told reporters in Rome on Tuesday that he was deeply saddened by the vote. “This result left me feeling very sad but as the Archbishop of Dublin pointed out, the Church will have to take this reality on board in the sense of a renewed and strengthened evangelisation. “I believe we are talking here not about a defeat for Christian principles but also a defeat for humanity," he said. On Saturday, Ireland made history as the first country to legalise gay marriage by popular mandate. The referendum saw 62.1% of Irish people vote in favour of same-sex marriage with 37.9% voting against it. All but one of Ireland’s 43 constituencies backed the constitutional reform. Following the results, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said the Church must consider it a wake-up call. "It's clear that if the referendum is an affirmation of the views of young people the Church has a huge task in front of it,” Archbishop Diarmuid Martin told RTÉ. "I THINK REALLY THE CHURCH NEEDS TO DO A REALITY CHECK" Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin "I ask myself, most of these young people who voted Yes are products of our Catholic school system for 12 years. I am saying there is a big challenge there to see how we get across the message of the Church," he said. He also said the result represents a social revolution which did not happen in one day. “I appreciate how gay and lesbian men and women feel on this day. That they feel this is something that is enriching the way they live. I think it is a social revolution. "It is a social revolution that has been going on - perhaps in the Church people have not been as clear in understanding what that involved,” he said. Some 3.86 million (84.2%) people in Ireland describe themselves as Catholic. © UTV Share Share More Churches Churches react to gay marriage vote Comments (0) B