“Without respect for its Christian memory and soul, I believe it is possible to anticipate continuing difficulties for the European project. These will emerge not only in economic terms but in terms of social cohesion and the continued growth of a dangerous individualism that does not care about God or about what the future might have in store.” http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0825/1219616651409.html

The Irish Government will have to make the same declaration.

Madam,
I welcome Stephen Collins’s call for a differentiated interpretation of the recent Lisbon vote (Opinion, August 2). It is apparent that the rejection of Lisbon is going to have gravely deleterious consequences for the national interest. The Government cannot simply ratify blindly a decision that exposes our nation to a future of poverty, powerlessness and isolation.
Indeed, this is a case where a responsible Government must sacrifice itself, banking on the future gratitude of the people. That the Irish people wish to be part of the European Union has been made clear in a whole series of decisions over the years and in the immense investment we have made in building up the Union. To overthrow all this on the basis of one muddled referendum (in which the Yes side was financially hamstrung while the No side drew on abundant foreign funds) would be a betrayal of the democratic will of Irish citizens for decades.
Yours,
(Rev.) Joseph S. O’Leary, DD

I added this clarification today:

Madam,
I agree that it would set a dangerous precedent if a Government were simply to overrule a referendum result. That is why I call for a differentiated interpretation.
If a renegotiation of Lisbon is impossible and if the price of leaving the Lisbon process is falling far behind in Europe or leaving the EU altogether, then the question must be asked: Is this really what the Irish people asked for in the referendum? That would be in total contradiction with their previous attitude to Europe.
The referendum could be interpreted without an excess of legerdemain as saying: we would like a more ideal treaty than Lisbon, but should this be impossible we want to stay in the EU all the same.
Yours,
Joseph S. O’Leary

American money, aimed at dividing Europe, and the retrograde politicking of the ex-terrrorist Sinn Fein are among the forces that made for this botched referendum.

[The Lisbon treaty] cannot come into force. The EU cannot ignore its own rules. The Lisbon Treaty has been roundly and democratically rejected by Ireland, and it therefore cannot come into force. Any attempt to ignore this fact and make recourse to pressure and political manipulation to move the treaty forward would have disastrous consequences for Europe. […] Since the treaty must unanimously be ratified of all the member states of the EU and one of them has already rejected it, the final result of the ratification will be the same. With or without the Czech vote, the Treaty of Lisbon will not be ratified.
Vaclav Klaus
President of the Czech Republic

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3366

The “yes” campaign was a disaster… FF fell asleep at the wheel… Bertie’s scandal came at an inopportune time… Irish people are stupid… yadda yadda yadda…

My goodness, it couldn’t have been God who permitted all of these things to happen, could it?

Really? Every pre and post referendum poll and commentary showed the prolife community loathed the idea of abortion being rammed down their throats by the bloody hands of Brussels’ autocrats. Do you read the Spectator, Mail or Guardian. Each is either hailing or blaming the prolifers in the pews for their role in smiting Moloch.

“I see dissenting from the teaching of the bishops extends beyond the US.”

Please provide the “teaching” . I’ve enclosed their Pastoral Letter. Read it. Then furnish proof of their endorsement; http://www.catholiccommunications.ie/lisbon08/lisbon08-pressrelease.htm
Take all the time you need.

I am not an Americanist, ardent or otherwise, but your careless disregard for the facts, suggests your support for the treaty is little more than a juvenile reaction to your domestic opponents. Grow up. The last thing the diverse peoples of Europe need is to fall under an explicitly anti-Christian, anti-democratic regime simply to satisfy your psychic need for debating points.

Betraying the memories of Adenaur and Mauriac by falsely claiming this project , which again, disavows their faith, as somehow their handiwork is shameful.

Instead, MM scapegoats, engages in musings about conspiracies and wonders about the terminal stupidity of the governed, thus coming to the conclusion that there is no need for their consent on such weighty matters beyond their benighted ken. Good stuff–it was this rant that made me realize Lisbon was a bad idea worthy of rejection.

I come back to my basic point: so many of those who detest the attempts to strengthen European integration are the most ardent Americanists. I would take them more seriously if they were calling for the dismantling of the federal government and military.

And what is this fetish for decision by plebiscite? When did that become part of the natural law? I would remind you that the re-election of George Bush was achieved by an absolute majority of voters– Europeans were then calling 54 million Americans stupid, if I remember.

Sure you do.

The project is 0 for 3 at the polls, and the last thing the EUcrats would want is a continent-wide defeat. Hence, their frantic efforts to deprive the people of Europe the right to self-determination.

As an aside, the Bishops did not endorse the Lisbon Treaty and reading their their 5 page Statement, one can easily interpret their reminder that Europe must nourish it’s Christian roots, as an argument for rejection.

God Bless the Irish and the pro-lifers who torpedoed this monster.

The only number that should count in an EU-wide poll. Has there been such an opinion poll? I believe there would be a substantial majority for Lisbon. Why should countries have a veto?