Irish gay marriage vote 'defeat for humanity,' says Vatican's Parolin

(ANSA) - Vatican City, May 26 - Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said Tuesday that last weekend's referendum in which Irish people voted to legalise gay marriage was a "defeat for humanity". "I was deeply saddened by this result," Cardinal Parolin said. "The Church must take account of this reality, but in the sense that it must strengthen its commitment to evangelization. I think that you cannot just talk of a defeat for Christian principles, but of a defeat for humanity".