In a statement read before Atheist Ireland's first AGM (Annual General Meeting), Richard Dawkins, author, evolutionary biologist and prominent atheist, said,“One of the world’s most beautiful and best-loved countries, Ireland has recently become one of the most respected as well: dynamic, go-ahead, modern, civilised – a green and pleasant silicon valley. This preposterous blasphemy law puts all that respect at risk.”
He said it would be too kind to call the law a ridiculous anachronism.
“It is a wretched, backward, uncivilised regression to the middle ages. Who was the bright spark who thought to besmirch the revered name of Ireland by proposing anything so stupid?”
The bright spark in this instance, was Dermot Ahern, Ireland's Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The preamble to Ireland's 1937 constitution says that all state authority is derived from the "Most Holy Trinity" and the constitution itself not only states that public homage is due to "Almighty God", but that blasphemy is an offense that shall be punishable by law. This requirement was fulfilled previously through a 1961 defamation act which Ahern has repealed. In order not to leave a constitutional "void", the minister has said that a new law was required to replace it. He also said that he was amending the new law to “make it virtually impossible to get a successful prosecution”. This was unnecessary since the Irish Supreme Court had ruled in 1999 that the old blasphemy law was unenforceable and Ireland has gotten along well despite this "void" in it's constitution for nigh on 10 years already.
For further information on the actual clauses and penalties of Ireland's new blasphemy law, try Staks Rosch's excellent article on the subject here.
Photo credits: Picture courtesy of Photobucket.
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Comments
Wow...how often is it that I agree with Richard Dawkins?? This may be a first.
Hugh,
Yesterday, I talked with a friend of mine who lives in Dublin and asked her about this new legislation. She said she had vaguely heard something about it and that it was nothing more than laughable. She said, "just let them try to enforce that on anyone here!" (I might add here that she and a great many like her are supporters of a free Ireland, much like my grandfather who was an IRA soldier - not exactly a group of push-overs)
She also heartily confessed about her lovely Ireland, "we are a nation of blasphemers, so what?"
If anyone says that Catholic priests molest, torture and rape little boys and girls, the person who says this should be charged with blasphemy, since I find such talk offensive (even if it is true). Meanwhile, this law against such speech would help protect those priests, so I like that part. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Image macros? Really?
Good article mired by irrelevant 4chan BS
Christina-Minister.....you're an idiot......the Catholic Church has so much blood on it's hands, and should be held accountable......your logic, is immoral.....so, a rapist should never be spoken badly about if he be Catholic
Organized Religion is War in disguise
Organized crime comes in many forms, and your God is no exception
This law is a persecution against atheists and anybody who would engage in a debate over the moral fortitude of any deity and his folllowers. I think God's a horrible person because, despite his omnipotence, he causes unquantifiable amounts of pain and suffering . If this law passes I woun't be allowed publicly voice this opinion.
religion already causes enough trouble in the world, the last thing we need is to empower it further.
there is religion - many religions in fact - then there is spirituality itself - then there is the possiblity that some religions are wrong or inaccurate and others that are correct - there are some "paths" that are not interested in God or gods - but in us - pure paths interested in the individuals quest for spiritual release or enlightenment - different perspectives not just limited by one way of looking at things....
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