A vote to choose the family

Do you agree that marriage could be a bond between a man and woman only? Do you agree that homosexual couples should not be granted marriage-related rights? Do you agree that homosexual couples should not be allowed to adopt children? Do you agree that it’s up to the parents to decide which education to impart to their children in terms of sensitive cultural and ethical issues, such as sexual ethics or euthanasia? These four questions will form part of a popular referendum in Slovakia – if approved. The Alliance for the Family, promoter and coordinator of the petition for a referendum on the protection of the family institution, believes that given its historical bearing, the president of the Republic Andrej Kiska will decide to hold the first referendum, prompted by a public petition, since Slovakia’s independence on the same day of local elections, due to be held November 15. The highest value. The petition, signed by 408.320 Slovakian citizens, was presented to President Kiska on August 27, only four months and a half since the launch of the signature-collection. It’s a “unique, important achievement in the 25-year long Constitution of the Republic of Slovakia” said Anna Veresová, member of Alliance for the Family, conveying her gratitude to over 4500 volunteers committed in the signature collection and to those citizens who decided to endorse it. “This referendum does not steal anyone’s rights. We want the fathers and mothers in our country to freely express what they think is best for their children. The family must stay on top of the scale of our values, without a doubt”, said Anton Chromik, attorney, a coordinator of the initiative. He pointed out that the importance – along with the rights – of the natural family “are often questioned, sometimes also by the authorities” who are under the obligation of protecting them. “A high number of international institutions and court rulings are influenced by an ideological perception of the family that is not natural. Nobody has asked people what they think. We want everyone to be given the possibility of expressing their opinion.” “Strategy” with an ideological flair. In Slovakia the idea of the family as a bond between a man and a woman is questioned also at national level. The Strategy for Support and Protection of Human Rights in the Slovakian Republic, that was the object of a lengthy debate and whose content was strongly criticized by pro-life and pro-family organizations owing to its “ideological flair”, in its preparatory phase on the part of the government, omits all references to the protection of the family, while it dedicates great attention to special rights of gay people, lesbians, transexuals, bisexuals, and intra-sexuals. “Several surveys show that Slovakians view the family as one of the most important values in society, immediately followed by life and health. Such an important document at national and international level must prompt reflection on the scale of values based on citizens’ attitude”, Anton Chromik pointed out. Figures show that 50% of marriages in Slovakia are doomed to failure. “It’s an alarming situation, to solve it we need a plan. We need a strategy for education, inter-generational solidarity, a concrete help to abandoned or mistreated women, mothers with children, a plan to protect the value of life”, said Marcela Dobešová, President of the Forum for Life, a national platform that brings together 47 pro-life and pro-family organizations. Activists believe that the referendum on the protection of the natural family could provide solid grounds for this national strategy. At the heart of the problem. “We made beautiful experiences during the signature-collection. The petition could be signed only by citizens over 18, but there have also been many ‘young’ supporters in families who wanted to place their signature, but they couldn’t because of their age”, Eva Grey, a consultant of Alliance for the Family, told SIR Europe. “Children are the first to know and to understand that having a mother and a father is the best way to feel safe and loved. Naturally, we cannot deny the existence of dysfunctional families, but our joint commitment consists in helping prevent the crisis.” Now they are waiting for President Kiska to announce his decision regarding the referendum, but the journey doesn’t end here. At least 50% of citizens will have to go to the polls for the referendum to be valid. The positive aspect is that increasing numbers of people realized that the protection of the family is not a formal issue, but that it reaches the heart of the problem.