“They were overwhelmed with millions and millions and millions of American dollars and threats from major American corporations that the Irish economy would be hurt if they didn’t go the right way,” Ruse said. “Even the conservative parties are stripping their members of their positions if they did not uphold this idea of faux marriage.”

The outcome of an Irish national referendum to redefine marriage was stunning in a land once deeply Christian and solidly Roman Catholic. Ireland narrowly voted to legalize divorce just 20 years ago. The final tally in the marriage vote last week was 62 percent in favor of redefining marriage by constitutional amendment, 38 percent against.

“In the privacy of the ballot box, the people made a public statement,” Prime Minister Enda Kenny said. “We have disclosed who we are, a generous, compassionate, bold, and joyful people.”

The vote makes Ireland the first nation in the world to provide for the legalization of same-sex marriage by popular vote.

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