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Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
#1
Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
Atheist Ireland welcomes the statement from Dermot Ahern, the Irish Justice Minister, that he is proposing a referendum this Autumn to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Irish Constitution, along with two other referendums that the government is already committed to.

On January 1st, the day that the law became operational, Atheist Ireland had published 25 blasphemous statements on the internet to challenge it.

The Justice Minister has now told the Sunday Times that he was only doing his duty in bringing in the new blasphemy law, and that the Attorney General had advised him that it was mandatory. He added that “there was an incredibly sophisticated campaign [against me], mainly on the internet.”

Atheist Ireland would like to thank everybody who has helped to make this campaign so effective so far. We look forward to the Autumn referendum as part of our overall campaign for an ethical, secular Ireland. We ask all reasonable citizens to work together to ensure that the referendum is won.

We reiterate that this law is both silly and dangerous: silly because it is introducing medieval canon law offence into a modern plularist republic; and dangerous because it incentives religious outrage and because its wording has already been adopted by Islamic States as part of their campaign to make blasphemy a crime internationally.

The blasphemy reference is one of several anachronisms in our Constitution that will ultimately need to be changed. Other examples are the religious oaths that prevent atheists from becoming President, or a Judge, or a member of the Council of State.
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#2
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
Nice. Took a few months, but I'm glad Ireland are finally making progress back into the 21st Century after their fling with the 13th.
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#3
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
I'm sure their fucking church sodomizing children had something to do with the change in public opinion.
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#4
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
Thank God!(LOL)

Good to see th ecountry my family hails from actually showing it has some sense. And with St. Patrick's Day coming up soon, too! Good on ye, ole' Ireland! Wink
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#5
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
This is good news Michael. I am glad that Ireland is doing better.

What part of Ireland is secular? If you don't mind me asking.
Freedom is the ability to march to the beat of a different drummer without fear of retribution. Secularone

Ignorance is bliss but understanding is wonderful. Atheist forums.org
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#6
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
The Republic of Ireland, which is where the blasphemy law was introduced, is much more secular and pluralist in practice than some of our laws would suggest.

A few decades ago, the task of an advocacy group such as Atheist Ireland would have been overwhelmingly about changing public opinion.

Today, the task is midway between doing that, and trying to get the Government to change the laws to reflect the fact that society is already changing.
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#7
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
Wow! Ireland has "blasphemy laws" still on the books? And they have religious oaths that are required of judges and the president? Holy 13th century, Batman! This is a job for the Justice League!
Science flies us to the moon and stars. Religion flies us into buildings.

God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
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#8
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
(March 15, 2010 at 11:40 am)Thor Wrote: Wow! Ireland has "blasphemy laws" still on the books?

"Still"? It was voted in just last year.
Best regards,
Leo van Miert
Horsepower is how hard you hit the wall --Torque is how far you take the wall with you
Pastafarian
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#9
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
(March 15, 2010 at 12:10 pm)leo-rcc Wrote:
(March 15, 2010 at 11:40 am)Thor Wrote: Wow! Ireland has "blasphemy laws" still on the books?

"Still"? It was voted in just last year.

Just last year?!?!? Incredible.

Did all the idiots voting for this piece of legislation come out of a time warp?
Science flies us to the moon and stars. Religion flies us into buildings.

God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
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#10
RE: Irish Justice Minister plans referendum to scrap new blasphemy law
Societys are changing, I agree with you Michael.

The reason I asked you "What part of Ireland is secular," is I have relatives living in Ireland, who are all catholic.

[edit] What I should have asked is, what counties are secular?
Freedom is the ability to march to the beat of a different drummer without fear of retribution. Secularone

Ignorance is bliss but understanding is wonderful. Atheist forums.org
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