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
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...