Login
Login

Christian Solidarity Party

{{short description|Defunct Irish political party}}

{{more citations needed|date=April 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2013}}

{{Infobox political party

| name = Christian Solidarity Party

|logo = Christian Solidarity Party logo.png

|colorcode = {{party color|Christian Solidarity Party}}

|founder = Gerard Casey

|leader = Daire Fitzgerald{{cite web|url=http://christiansolidarity.ie/people/|title=People Comhar Críostaí|access-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215031932/http://christiansolidarity.ie/people/|archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=dead}}

|foundation = {{start date|1991}}

|ideology = {{unbulleted list|Social conservatism|Communitarianism}}

|headquarters = 14 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1

|website =

|country = the Republic of Ireland

|native_name = Comhar Críostaí

|dissolution = {{end date|2014}} (year deregistered)

|position = Right-wing

|colours = Lemon yellow

}}

The Christian Solidarity Party ({{langx|ga|Comhar Críostaí}}) was a minor political party in Ireland. It had no representation at local or national level. Founded in 1991 as the Christian Principles Party, it stood candidates in the 1991 local elections, it was reformed as the Christian Centrist Party and ran candidates in the 1992 general election receiving 0.2% of first preference votes. It was renamed in 1994 to incorporate the word "Solidarity" following a mutual pledge of support between the party and the conservative advocacy group, Family Solidarity. Its first candidate was Catherine Kelly, contesting the 1994 Cork South-Central by-election,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4210 Catherine Kelly Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010164353/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4210 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org who received 1,704 (4.0%) first preference votes. The CSP took part in the 1997 general election and contested each general election, and a number of other by-elections until 2011. It also fielded candidates in Local and European Parliament elections.

In the 2013 Meath East by-election the CSP supported the Direct Democracy Ireland (DDI) candidate Ben Gilroy taking out newspaper adverts to support him, previously some CSP candidates included DDI on their election literature.

In 2013 the party lobbied the Standards in Public Office to Committee against the mandatory requirement for political parties accounts to be audited by an external body, claiming this would be a very high expense for a small party,[http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/guidelines/draft-political-party-account-guidelines/submissions-received/christian-solidarity-party.pdf Draft Political Party Accounts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521154214/http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/guidelines/draft-political-party-account-guidelines/submissions-received/christian-solidarity-party.pdf |date=21 May 2014 }} Letter to the Standards in Public Office, 9 September 2013 whereas parties represented in the Dáil have access to public funds for this.

In January 2014 the party's entry in the official register of political parties was cancelled.{{cite web|url=http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/Ir140114.pdf|title=ELECTORAL ACTS 1992 AND 2012 Register of Political Parties|work=Iris Oifigiúil|date=14 January 2014|page=80|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032915/http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/Ir140114.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/about/publications/registerofpoliticalparties/|title=Register of Political Parties in Ireland|work=Houses of the Oireachtas|date=11 February 2014|access-date=16 February 2014|archive-date=12 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112225833/http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/about/publications/registerofpoliticalparties/|url-status=live}}

In 2015, the Christian Solidarity party was registered as a third party with the Standards in Public Office, to receive donations for political purposes.

Despite no longer being registered as a political party, the party continues to campaign on a socially conservative platform, most recently, to oppose the 2024 constitutional referendums on the Family and Care{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/02/15/christian-solidarity-party-urges-vote-no-in-amendment-campaign/ | title=Christian Solidarity Party urges 'No' vote in amendment campaign | first=Tim | last=O'Brien | date=15 February 2024 | newspaper=The Irish Times }}

Ideology

It advocates an orthodox version of Catholic social teaching, and its main proposals are based upon traditional, and unequivocal, anti-abortion natalism. The party promotes traditional family values and campaigns against marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.[http://www.tallyman.ie/media/audio/ChristianSolidarity.mp3 Radio Interview with Paul O'Loughlin of the Christian Solidarity Party] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721131849/http://www.tallyman.ie/media/audio/ChristianSolidarity.mp3 |date=21 July 2011 }} www.tallyman.ie, 2010[https://www.scribd.com/doc/21841896/Christian-Solidarity-Party-Letter-to-TD-s-and-Senators Christian Solidarity Party Letter to TD's and Senators] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306144800/https://www.scribd.com/doc/21841896/Christian-Solidarity-Party-Letter-to-TD-s-and-Senators |date=6 March 2016 }} regarding the Civil Partnership Bill, Government Documents, 30 October 2009

The Party made written and oral submissions to various Oireachtas committees regarding proposed legislation on such family and social issues,[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123405/http://www.constitution.ie/oral-hearings/family-issues_presentations-21042005/7.asp Christian Solidarity Submission] The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, www.constitution.ie, 21 April 2005 as well as on other issues such as Seanad reform.[http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/committees29thdail/subcomonseanadreform/Report_on_Reform_of_the_Seanad.pdf REPORT on SEANAD REFORM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105022737/http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/committees29thdail/subcomonseanadreform/Report_on_Reform_of_the_Seanad.pdf |date=5 January 2011 }} -

SEANAD ÉIREANN COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES SUB-COMMITTEE ON SEANAD REFORM, www.oireachtas.ie, 19 April 2004 The party describes itself as follows:

{{Blockquote|The Christian Solidarity Party is dedicated to the causes of Life, the Family and the Community. The CSP promotes policies that safeguard the value of human life from conception to natural death, that support the position of the family as the fundamental unit group of society, and that allow human communities to flourish in a manner consistent with human dignity.}}

The party also campaigned against the announced closure of Ireland's embassy to the Vatican in 2011 and held a small demonstration outside of Leinster House.{{cite web|title=Group to protest closure of Ireland's embassy in Vatican|date=8 December 2011|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/group-to-protest-closure-of-irelands-embassy-in-vatican-531429.html|publisher=BreakingNews.ie|access-date=31 January 2012|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215063354/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/group-to-protest-closure-of-irelands-embassy-in-vatican-531429.html|url-status=live}}

Prominent members

Richard Greene, its former leader, stepped down on 13 December 2012.[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3980 Richard Greene Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413080521/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3980 |date=13 April 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Gerard Casey, who was the founder and led the party initially, is no longer active. Paul O'Loughlin, was leader and Dublin Central candidate. O'Loughlin's predecessor was Cathal Loftus. Daire Fitzgerald replaced Paul O'Loughlin on 21 November 2016.

=Leaders=

  • Gerard Casey (1991–1999)
  • Paul O'Loughlin (–2011)
  • Richard Greene (2011–2012)
  • Cathal Loftus (2012–)
  • Paul O'Loughlin (–2016)
  • Daire Fitzgerald (2016–present)

Election history

=2014 local elections=

Although not on the official list of parties, the then party leader Commandant Cathal Ashbourne Loftus ran as a non-party candidate in the 2014 local elections in the Ashbourne ward, using the Christian Solidarity logo on his election leaflets.[http://irishelectionliterature.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/cloftus1.jpg Cathal Loftus Election Leaflet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521155711/http://irishelectionliterature.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/cloftus1.jpg |date=21 May 2014 }} Local Elections 2014.

=2011 general election=

The party nominated eight candidates in the 2011 general election five in Dublin and one each in Limerick, Meath and Cork.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110126080715/http://www.comharcriostai.org/candidate.htm 2011 Candidates]}} Christian Solidarity Party Website

  • Paul O'LoughlinPaul O'Loughlin Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4778 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305132233/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4778 |date=5 March 2011 }} (Dublin Central)
  • Michael Larkin[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4793 Michael Larkin Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305132235/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4793 |date=5 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org (Dublin North-West)
  • Jane Murphy[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6336 Jane Murphy Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305075841/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=6336 |date=5 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org (Dublin South)
  • Colm Callanan[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4296 Colm Callanan Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305075547/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4296 |date=5 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org (Dublin South-Central)
  • Daire Fitzgerald[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6326 Daire Fitzgerald Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305162153/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=6326 |date=5 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org (Dún Laoghaire)
  • Conor O'DonoghueConor O'Donoghue Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4830 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306025843/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4830 |date=6 March 2011 }} (Limerick City)
  • Manus MacMeanmain[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4449 Manus MacMeanmain Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010164455/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4449 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org (Meath West)
  • Harry Rea[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8076 Harry Rea Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306082647/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=8076 |date=6 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org (Cork North-Central)

At the party's election launch news conference conducted by then leader, Richard Greene stated that the party will campaign on a anti-abortion and what it calls a 'Euro-Realist' platform and that it will oppose making the poor pay for the economic crisis.[http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0217/election_tracker.html RTE News Election tracker] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218232853/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0217/election_tracker.html |date=18 February 2011 }} Thursday 17 February 2011.Christian Solidarity : Campaign focuses on sovereignty by Marie O'Halloran Irish Times, Friday 19 February 2011.

The party's Meath West candidate, Manus MacMeanmain (who polled 0.6% of first preference votes) was reportedly unhappy that the Christian Solidarity Party's logo was not present on the ballot paper, and claimed that the image that was used looked like "a bunch of nuts".{{cite news|last=Dervan|first=Cathal|title=Part 1:Election diary from Ireland|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Election-diary-from-Ireland-116975958.html|access-date=31 January 2012|newspaper=Irish Central|date=26 February 2011|archive-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126165258/http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Election-diary-from-Ireland-116975958.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=@RTEmeathWEST|url=https://twitter.com/RTEmeathWEST|work=RTÉ Live Election Tracker|publisher=RTÉ News|access-date=31 January 2012|archive-date=12 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312132941/http://twitter.com/RTEmeathWEST|url-status=live}}

The party polled 0.1% of the votes and no deposits were saved.

=2009 local elections=

For the 2009 local elections, they fielded candidates in 13 constituencies. They were:

  • Paul O'Loughlin (North Inner City, Dublin City Council)
  • Clare Flynn[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8775 Clare Flynn Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928084913/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8775 |date=28 September 2012 }}. electionsireland.org (Ballinasloe, Galway County Council)
  • Conor O'Donoghue (Limerick City Council North)
  • Colm Callanan (Crumlin-Kimmage, Dublin City Council. 5 LEAs for Laois County Council: Borris-in-Ossory, Emo, Luggacurran, Mountmellick, Portlaoise and 4 LEAs for Offaly County Council: Birr, Edenderry, Ferbane and Tullamore){{Cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/indepth/elections2009/local-elections/ |title=Irish Times: Local election candidates |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=22 May 2009 |archive-date=28 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028024801/http://www.irishtimes.com/indepth/elections2009/local-elections/ |url-status=live }}

None were elected, and none received their election expenses.

=2007 general election=

The CSP ran seven candidates - two women and five men - in the 2007 election. None were successful and all lost their deposits. Party leader Cathal Loftus received 210 votes in Dublin North, 0.38% of the votes and came last out of eight candidates. Paul O'Loughlin, the party's best-performing candidate, who had recently appeared on the party's party election broadcast, scored just 260 votes in Dublin Central, with 0.75% of the vote. The party as a whole scored 0.06% of the total national vote. The party candidates included:

  • Mary Doherty[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8767 Mary Doherty Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927183804/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8767 |date=27 September 2012 }}. electionsireland.org (Donegal North-East)
  • Clare Flynn (Galway East)
  • Paul O'Loughlin (Dublin Central)
  • Colm Callanan (Dublin Mid-West)
  • Michael Redmond[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4805 Michael Redmond Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412091703/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4805 |date=12 April 2012 }}. electionsireland.org (Dublin South-Central)
  • Conor O'Donoghue (Limerick East){{Cite web |url=http://www.electionsireland.org/results/general/30thdail/candidates.cfm |title=Elections Ireland: 30th Dáil Candidates |access-date=7 May 2007 |archive-date=27 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427083725/http://www.electionsireland.org/results/general/30thdail/candidates.cfm |url-status=live }}

None were elected.

=2004 European Parliament election=

In the 2004 European Parliament election, the CSP announced it had no plans to run, but later announced Barry Despard[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=5489 Barry Despard Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010164508/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=5489 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org as a candidate. He came ninth of twelve candidates in the Dublin constituency with 5,352 first-preference votes, or 1.3% of the valid poll.

=2002 general election=

In the 2002 general election, the CSP ran 19 candidates, between the ages of 22 and 82. Some ran in more than one constituency. They spent €12,284.71 on the campaign. The party polled 0.26% of the vote. No candidates were elected, all losing their deposits.

  • Tony Smith,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4753 Tony Smith Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202612/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4753 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Cavan–Monaghan - 358 votes
  • Derek J Whelan,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4756 Derek Whelan Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202619/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4756 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Clare - 176 votes
  • Patrick Manning,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4758 Patrick Manning Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202624/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4758 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Cork East - 187 votes
  • Gerry Duffy,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3919 Gerry Duffy Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915074423/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3919 |date=15 September 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Cork North-Central - 215 votes
  • Gerry Duffy, Cork North-West - 383 votes
  • Paul O'Loughlin, Dublin Central - 366 votes
  • Colm Callanan, Dublin Mid-West - 107 votes
  • David Walshe,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4787 David Walshe Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927130123/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4787 |date=27 September 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Dublin North - 247 votes
  • Michael Larkin Dublin North-West - 154 votes
  • Darragh O'ReillyDarragh O'Reilly Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4799 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412060250/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4799 |date=12 April 2012 }} Dublin South-West - 760 votes
  • John Smyth,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2446 John Smyth Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412053926/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=2446 |date=12 April 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Dublin West - 134 votes
  • Michael Redmond, Dún Laoghaire - 265 votes
  • Manus MacMeanmain, Galway East - 93 votes
  • Michael Redmond, Laois–Offaly - 142 votes
  • Conor O'Donoghue, Limerick East - 86 votes
  • Patrick O'Riordan,Patrick O'Riordan Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4833 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202720/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4833 |date=10 October 2012 }} Limerick West - 144 votes
  • Brian Lenehan,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4840 Brian Lenehan Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202729/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4840 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Longford–Roscommon - 80 votes
  • Michael Maguire,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=9144 Michael Maguire Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202735/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=9144 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Louth - 79 votes
  • Michael Redmond, Meath - 180 votes
  • John Lacken,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4371 John Lacken Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010202740/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4371 |date=10 October 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Sligo–Leitrim - 166 votes
  • Michael Larkin, Tipperary South - 120 votes
  • Patrick Walsh,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=1354 Patrick Walsh Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414202211/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=1354 |date=14 April 2012 }}. electionsireland.org Westmeath - 126 votes
  • Michael O'ConnorMichael O'Connor Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8793 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413064957/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8793 |date=13 April 2012 }} Wexford - 173 votes

=1999 European Parliament election=

In the 1999 European Parliament election, party leader Gerard Casey[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4227 Gerard Casey Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311132601/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=4227 |date=11 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org contested the Dublin constituency. He finished 10th out of 13 candidates with 9,425 first preference votes (3.36%). He lost his deposit.

=1997 general election=

At the 1997 general election, the CSP fielded 8 candidates and polled 0.5% of the vote. No candidates were elected. All lost their deposits.

  • Gene Flood,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4230 Gene Flood Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310222430/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4230 |date=10 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Cavan–Monaghan - 1,024 votes (1.7%)
  • Larry McGinn,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4231 Larry McGinn Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310222433/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4231 |date=10 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Cavan–Monaghan - 1,001 votes (1.7%)
  • Joe Aston,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4234 Joe Aston Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310222437/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4234 |date=10 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Clare - 499 votes (1.1%)
  • Eddie Mullins,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=75 Eddie Mullins Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310222447/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=75 |date=10 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Cork North-Central - 777 votes (1.8%)
  • Angela Keaveney,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4263 Angela Keaveney Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310222519/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4263 |date=10 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Dublin North - 666 votes (1.6%)
  • Gerard Casey, Dún Laoghaire - 2,000 votes (3.7%)
  • Brian Curran,[http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4366 Brian Curran Candidate History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310175335/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4366 |date=10 March 2011 }}. electionsireland.org Meath - 1,031 votes (1.8%)
  • John Lacken, Sligo–Leitrim - 1,359 votes (3.0%)

=By-elections=

Referendums

=2008/2009: Lisbon Treaty=

The Christian Solidarity Party campaigned against both Lisbon Treaty referendums.[http://www.alive.ie/archives/Alive!%20Sept%2009.pdf Page 13, Advert We Say Vote No to Lisbon]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Alive, 20 September 2009. The party also made submissions to the Oireachtas committee on Ireland's future in Europe after the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the first vote. Some members participated in the Cóir campaign and in other anti-Lisbon treaty campaigns.

=2012: Children =

The Christian Solidarity Party campaigned, along with a number of other conservative groupings and individuals, for a No vote in the November 2012 children's rights referendum.{{cite news|title=Group begins campaign against Children's Referendum|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1017/childrens-rights-referendum.html|access-date=7 November 2012|newspaper=RTÉ News|date=17 October 2012}}

The party claimed that the constitutional amendment would give too much power and responsibility to the State with regard to children, with Richard Greene stating that "[t]he real agenda is to dismantle parents' authority to protect their children, especially teenagers, and to increase State control...it could see the law deciding, for example, how far parents may monitor text messages or internet use to protect their children from bullying".{{cite news|last=Minihan|first=Mary|title='No' campaign warns on referendum|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1107/breaking41.html|access-date=7 November 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=7 November 2012|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107155625/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1107/breaking41.html|url-status=live}}

=2015: Marriage equality=

Christian Solidarity/Comhar Críostaí was registered as "approved body" to monitor postal voting and vote counting,{{cite journal|url=http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/Ir240415.PDF#page=7|title=List of Bodies As Approved Bodies for the Purpose of the Referendums on the Thirty-Fourth And Thirty-Fifth Proposed Amendments of the Constitution|date=24 April 2015|journal=Iris Oifigiúil|volume=2015|publisher=Government of Ireland|page=753|issue=33|access-date=5 May 2015|location=Dublin|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100859/http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/Ir240415.PDF#page=7|url-status=live}} with Cathal 'Ashbourne' Loftus designated as its officer, for the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150418022049/http://refcom2015.ie/news/ Referendum Commission – Approved Bodies]

=2018: Abortion=

The party and its members campaigned to retain the 8th amendment in the 2018 abortion referendum.

=2024: Family and Care=

The party issued a press release stating that it opposed both amendments to the constitution proposed in the 2024 Irish constitutional referendums.

General election results

class="wikitable sortable"
Election

! Seats won

! Position

! First Pref votes

! %

! Government

! Leader

1997

| {{Composition bar|0|166|hex={{party color|Independent politician}}}}

| {{Increase}}10

| 8,357

| 0.5%

| style="background:#ffd;"|No seats

| Gerard Casey

2002

| {{Composition bar|0|158|hex={{party color|Independent politician}}}}

| {{increase}}8

| 4,741

| 0.3%

| style="background:#ffd;"|No seats

| Gerard Casey

2007

| {{Composition bar|0|158|hex={{party color|Independent politician}}}}

| {{decrease}}10

| 1,705

| 0.08%

| style="background:#ffd;"|No seats

| Cathal Loftus

2011

| {{Composition bar|0|158|hex={{party color|Independent politician}}}}

| {{decrease}}11

| 2,102

| 0.1%

| style="background:#ffd;"|No seats

| Richard Greene

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.irishtimes.com/focus/election_2002/parties/csp.htm Christian Solidarity Party] — from the Irish Times guide to the 2002 election

{{Historic Irish parties}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Catholic political parties

Category:Conservative parties in Ireland

Category:Defunct political parties in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Political parties established in 1991

Category:Political parties disestablished in 2014

Category:Right-wing politics in Ireland

Category:1991 establishments in Ireland

Category:2014 disestablishments in Ireland