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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vatican: Divorce Vote Defeat For The Family

Compiled From Wire Services

Ireland’s vote in favor of legalizing divorce was a defeat for the family, not the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said Monday.

It was the first official comment from the Vatican since the referendum Friday. Pope John Paul II had appealed to Irish Catholics to pray for its defeat.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro also told RAI state television that it would be wrong to call the vote a defeat for the church.

He said it was “very significant” that Ireland was so divided over the issue. A recount confirmed that only 9,114 “yes” votes provided the margin of victory for 1.6 million ballots cast.