Just in case

you thought that anti-marriage organizations in the U.S. had nonsensical rationalizations locked down, there's this, from the Iona Institute, a Catholic "think tank" in Ireland:

“Those who claim that same-sex couples and married opposite-sex couples should be treated identically must demonstrate that there is no advantage to children in encouraging men and women to marry. They must also demonstrate that children have no right to be raised by their own mother and father, even as a matter of first principle.

“Only after demonstrating that there is no relevant difference between opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples, especially from the point of view of children, and that the right to a mother and father where possible does not exist, can same-sex marriage be justified."

There's no discernible connection between legal same-sex marriage and who raises children. No one "must" demonstrate anything of the sort. It's really a rehash of the argument presented in the Prop 8 case (and so many others) that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples encourages "responsible procreation" and supports families. It probably does, but excluding same-sex couples from marriage doesn't address that issue in any way.

And, of course, we can't call them bigots:

“It is also out-of-bounds to denounce as ‘bigots’ and ‘homophobes’ those who have perfectly rational, evidence-based reasons for believing that there is a relevant difference between opposite and same-sex couples."

Unfortunately, the Iona Institute hasn't offered rational, evidence-based reasons, so I guess they're stuck with the label.

You might guess that the move is on to legalize SSM in Ireland. You'd be right.