But they affirm it is “vital to ensure that the rights of individuals and communities to practise and live out their faith openly are protected by law”.

“Des lived his life by the Christian principles of the gospel. He particularly believed in the life of the unborn,” said Thurles curate Fr Tomás O’Connell.

Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said: “The poll clearly shows that 73% of respondents do not want unrestricted access to abortion in Ireland, along the lines of what the ‘Repeal’ campaign is looking for.”

“In our age of flattened earth, narrowed horizons, conformity to a shallow consumerism and superficial variety that masks a deeper conformity, the role of the Church is to be the Church."

Irish philosopher says introducing SSM in Ireland is legally even more catastrophic than it has been in England because of our special constitutional protections for the family.

Section 37 of Employment Equality Act is about the balancing of legitimate rights: Fr Michael Drumm in a talk on denominational education.