Almost two thirds of people believe that a child is more likely to grow up happy if raised in a home with a mother and father.
A survey carried out by Amárach Research on behalf of Accord, the Catholic marriage care service, has shown a strong support for marriage in Ireland. Some 61% considered marriage as a life-long commitment, which is an increase from 56% when the same question was posed in 2006. This view was particularly strong amongst young people (25 – 34 years). The poll showed that 65% of people agreed that a child is more likely to grow up happy if raised in a home with a loving mother and father.
The research was launched after the blessing of engaged couple Leona Gallagher and Paul McNulty at the Shrine of St Valentine in Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Dublin by Bishop Denis Nulty.
Bishop Nulty said that the research shows that “despite evidence of uncertainty and even rejection by some of traditional marriage, the percentile who see it as a lifelong commitment has increased in the past eight years”.
Referring to the upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage, Bishop Nulty said “no law can alter the true nature and meaning of marriage. Marriage has always recognised sexual difference, and the complementarity of the sexes.
“This is because society recognises the importance of the setting in which new human life, new members of society, come into existence. It is of vital importance to society that the definition of marriage is protected, sustained and supported,” he said.
The survey found that fewer people believe that “the importance of family is decreasing in Ireland,” with a fall from 64% to 54% between 2006 and 2014.
While showing a reduction since 2006, 54% of people still disagreed that marriage is “old-fashioned or out-moded” and 51% agreed that “most married couples I know have happy healthy marriages”.