News

By Hilary White

  DUBLIN, April 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Bertie Ahern today announced his resignation following an investigation into corruption and financial scandals. Ahern has been the head of government in the Republic of Ireland since 1997 and has dedicated much energy as Prime Minister to implementing the demands of the radical homosexual lobby, in a country that remains 88.4 per cent Catholic.

  Ahern told media that his resignation was not an admission of improper actions. “I have never received a corrupt payment and I’ve never done anything to dishonour any office that I’ve ever held.”

  The former Taoiseach was highly praised by leaders in the homosexualist political movement for whom he has brought forward “equality” legislation similar to that in the UK that forces religious employers to hire admitted homosexuals and has led to fears in Britain that publicly expressing religious opposition to homosexual activity will be outlawed.

  In July 2007, while opening a homosexual community centre in Dublin, Ahern promised to impose homosexual civil unions. “This Government is committed to providing a more supportive and secure legal environment for same-sex couples,” he said.

“We will legislate for Civil Partnerships at the earliest possible date in the lifetime of this Government.” The government is expected to introduce civil unions legislation this month.

  In 2004 – together with Diarmuid Martin, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin – Ahern supported the call of the homosexual movement to grant gay partners spousal inheritance rights.

  In 2001, Ahern published the Human Life and Pregnancy Bill an attempt to legalise early term abortion, defining it as the destruction of unborn human life only after implantation of the embryo in the womb.

  The influence of Ahern and politicians of his type on public opinion on moral issues can be tracked through public opinions on legalised abortion. In 1997, the year he came to power, the Irish Times reported that 28 per cent of the Irish population believed that “an abortion should be provided to those who need it”. In 2005, the Irish Examiner reported that 36 per cent believed abortion should be legalized. By 2007, 43 per cent supported legalised abortion if a woman believed it was in her best interest while 51 per cent remained opposed.

  Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
  Irish PM Vows Gay “Marriage” will be Imposed on Catholic Ireland
  https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06040407.html

  Irish Prime Minister and Dublin Catholic Archbishop Back Homosexual Spousal Rights
  https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/nov/04111603.html