In total, 1,201,607 people voted in favor of same-sex marriage, while 734,300 voted against. Out of 43 constituencies, only the largely rural Roscommon-South Leitrim had a majority of "no" votes.

It was a resounding blow to both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland (Anglican) that had fought a vigorous, but some say low-key campaign, against gay marriage. Clearly, the mood of the country was for sexual liberation -- a liberation that could lead, as one reporter put it, to Ireland's serfdom.

A statement from the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland following the result of the Marriage Referendum was lackluster at best. "The archbishops and bishops of the Church of Ireland wish to affirm that the people of the Republic of Ireland, in deciding by referendum to alter the State's legal definition of marriage, have of course acted fully within their rights.

"The Church of Ireland, however, defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and the result of this referendum does not alter this.

"The church has often existed, in history, with different views from those adopted by the state, and has sought to live with both conviction and good relationships with the civil authorities and communities in which it is set. Marriage services taking place in a Church of Ireland church, or conducted by a minister of the Church of Ireland may -- in compliance with church teaching, liturgy and canon law -- continue to celebrate only marriage between a man and a woman."

The bishops urged a spirit of public generosity, both from those for whom the result of the referendum represents triumph, and from those for whom it signifies disaster.

At least two C of I bishops were undoubtedly rejoicing over the vote for gay marriage. Recent pronouncements by the bishops of Cork and Cashel on the same-sex marriage referendum approved a "yes" vote. The Bishop of Cashel, at an event on Marriage Equality, was accused by a group of orthodox Anglicans of not bearing witness to the stated will of the Church to "love our neighbour, and (oppose) all unbiblical and uncharitable actions and attitudes in respect of human sexuality from whatever perspective, including bigotry, hurtful words or actions, and demeaning or damaging language" (General Synod 2012).

The Roman Catholic Church seemed to concede defeat. "It is a social revolution. It's very clear that if this referendum is an affirmation of the views of young people, then the Church has a huge task ahead of it," Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin told national broadcaster RTE. "We [the Church] have to stop and have a reality check, not move into denial of the realities."

The Church needs to do a reality check, said Martin, "the Church in Ireland needs to reconnect with young people. We won't begin again with a sense of renewal, with a sense of denial.

"I appreciate how gay and lesbian men and women feel on this day. That they feel this is something that is enriching the way they live. I think it is a social revolution."

The referendum found 62% were in favor of changing the constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.

When I was a theological student in London in the 60s, I would venture with a team of students from my college into County Cork to distribute copies of the New Testament during summer breaks. We invariably found mothers with 10 to 12 children living in abject poverty, their lives dominated by not so hard working husbands, and the local priest who seemed to dominate their every move and thought. I have a better understanding of why C.S. Lewis, who was raised in Northern Ireland, never converted to Rome. It wasn't just a number of papal dogmas he couldn't swallow. The lives of most Catholics were not made any easier or lighter by the heavy hand of Roman priests. My heart went out to these women. At a certain level, one can understand the liberation from large families (most Catholics now practice birth control despite all the warnings from Rome) and the desire for better lives, free from the heavy hand of an oppressive church that has now lost most of its standing with the people.

What is sad is the form of liberation it took, namely the acceptance of gay marriage which the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, and most evangelicals in the West believe is a salvation issue. Being divorced, practicing birth control, even abortion are not salvation issues, if repented. However, unrepentant sodomy now legitimized by the state (and may one day be forced on the church to perform) poses serious ontological and cosmological questions that cannot be swept under the rug.

Had the referendum been about birth control, would anybody really have cared?

The seven Scriptures found in both Old and New Testaments prohibiting sodomy and the dire teaching of the Apostle Paul in Romans Chapter One leave no doubt about what God thinks and the limits to His tolerance and forbearance. The Church is not permitted to change God's mind for Him.

The distinguished Baptist theologian, Dr. Albert Mohler writes that the words homosexual and marriage are inherently contradictory. "The very fact that these terms are in public conflict demonstrates the radical character of the social revolutionaries that now demand the legalization of homosexual marriage."

A conversation about "homosexual marriage" is only possible if the concept of marriage is completely redefined and severed from its historic roots and organic meaning, he says.

"Civilization requires the regulation of human sexuality and relationships. No society--ancient or modern--has survived by advocating a laissez faire approach to sex and sexual relationships. Every society, no matter how liberal, sanctions some sexual behaviors and proscribes others. Every society establishes some form of sexual norm."

Pitirim Sorokin, the founder of sociology at Harvard University, pointed to the regulation of sexuality as the essential first mark of civilization. According to Sorokin, civilization is possible only when marriage is normative and sexual conduct is censured outside of the marital relationship. Furthermore, Sorokin traced the rise and fall of civilizations and concluded that the weakening of marriage was a first sign of civilizational collapse.

The regulation of sexuality is thus a primary responsibility of any civilization. In their review of Western civilization, Will and Ariel Durant noted that sex is "a river of fire that must be banked and cooled by a hundred restraints." The primary restraint has always been the institution of marriage itself--an institution that is inescapably heterosexual and based in the monogamous union of a man and a woman as husband and wife.

Government does not have the right to reorder this most basic institution of human organization. Marriage predates the establishment of government, and any governmental authority that would presume to redefine marriage apart from its inherently heterosexual nature will do so at great peril, concludes Mohler.

Ireland has made a dramatic decision. Their decision to allow same-sex marriage will determine the future state of their society, the moral status of their culture, the health and well being of their children, and the inheritance they leave to the world. The choice, notes Mohler, is not between two visions of marriage -- but between marriage and madness.

Righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34), unrighteousness condemns a nation. Ireland beware.

END