In the News – Saturday May 2
May 2, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Saturday May 2

Green TD in blasphemy challenge (news item in The Times) Pakistan - Christian families accused of blasphemy (news item in the Daily Times)

Pope John Paul II Opposed Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws
May 2, 2009 No Comments

Pope John Paul II Opposed Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws

The following is an extract from a speech by Pope John Paul II in May 2003, addressing the new Ambassador to the Holy See from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. "Your Excellency, I am pleased to acknowledge the considerable political reforms which have recently been implemented in Pakistan for the improvement ...

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In the News – Friday May 1
May 1, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Friday May 1

Position of blasphemy in our Constitution cannot be ignored (opinion piece by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern in the Irish Times) Churches not consulted about blasphemy law proposal (news item by Carol Coulter in the Irish Times) Crime of blasphemy dangerous and silly (opinion piece by John Waters in the Irish ...

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Transubstantiation and Desert Superstitions
May 1, 2009 2 Comments

Transubstantiation and Desert Superstitions

Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed: "(If defamation of religion was illegal) it would be a crime for me to say that the notion of transubstantiation is so ridiculous that even a small child should be able to see the ...

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George Carlin – Religion is Bullshit
May 1, 2009 1 Comment

George Carlin – Religion is Bullshit

Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed.

In the News – Thursday April 30
April 30, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Thursday April 30

For God's sake, why have blasphemous libel? (analysis by Carol Coulter in the Irish Times) Ahern denies ‘criminalising blasphemy’ (news item in the Irish Examiner) A blasphemy law for Ireland? (news item in New Humanist) 

Blasphemy, God and the Irish Constitution
April 30, 2009 No Comments

Blasphemy, God and the Irish Constitution

If you are charged with blasphemy in Ireland, you will be tried by a Judge who was obliged to swear a religious oath asking the Christian God to direct and sustain him or her, and who will be enforcing a Constitution that includes these clauses: The Preamble begins with the ...

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In the News – Wed April 29
April 29, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Wed April 29

Crime of blasphemous libel proposed for Defamation Bill (news item by Carol Coulter in the Irish Times) Atheist Ireland responds to proposed law on RTE radio (recording of Liveline, with Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland) Ahern defends blasphemy changes (news item on Irish Times website) Religion doesn't need protection (opinion ...

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Irish Constitution – All Authority Comes From God
April 29, 2009 1 Comment

Irish Constitution – All Authority Comes From God

What Eamon de Valera told the Dail during the debate on the 1937 Irish Constitution: “I want everybody to realise what this Constitution states about authority. In the Preamble, and in the Article that refers to that, there is a clear, unequivocal statement that authority comes from God. That is ...

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