Irish Humanists claim they are discriminated against

[Catalpa]

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWIDSNGBIDMH

[Catalpa]

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWIDSNGBIDMH

The Humanists Organisation of Ireland has called for the deletion of all religious references from the Irish Constitution.

It claimed that passages which refer to religion in the document discriminate against people who do not believe in God.

Personally I don't want refrences to God removed.

Most people in Ireland believe in God so why should the majority have to pander to a minority viewpoint?

I accept though that if people are legally debarred from holding public office due to a lack of belief in their being a God then that's going too far.

But other than that leave God as he is in our Constitution etc.

[Sidewinder]

*deleted cos I went and actually looked it up*

The Preamble is legally meaningless, but it's not the only reference to God in there. They do have something of a point. Take Article 6.1:

All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people

No need at all for the "under God" bit, and indeed it smacks of monarchism and the Divine Right Of Kings.

Article 12.8, the Oath of the President on taking office:

"In the presence of Almighty God I ,do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws, that I will fulfil my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and that I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland. May God direct and sustain me."

Could an atheist, or follower of a non-monotheistic religion, be President?

Article 31.4, the Oath for members of the Council Of State:

"In the presence of Almighty God I, , do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfil my duties as a member of the Council of State."

So, what happens if we have an atheist Taoiseach who retires? He can't attend the Council of State?

Article 34.5.1 The Oath for every single Judge in the State:

"In the presence of Almighty God I, , do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my knowledge and power execute the office of Chief Justice (or as the case may be) without fear or favour, affection or ill-will towards any man, and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws. May God direct and sustain me."

So, guess we'll never have a Hindu judge...

Article 44.1

The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.

Meh. An article respecting religious belief sure, nothing wrong with that, and a protection in itself against persecution of minority faiths. But this is specifically monotheistic again.

Most of the problem seems to be with the Oaths. Why are they in the main body of the text anyway? Bit of a silly place to have them when in so many other areas the Constitution just says things like "as shall be laid down in law"...

[merle haggard]

Many of these people are practicing Satanists and warlocks

[Sidewinder]

Many of these people are practicing Satanists and warlocks

Good for them. Everybody should have a hobby.

[merle haggard]

Youll not be saying that if you ever run foul of them

[Sidewinder]

But I am protected by Hapexamendios Himself. Oh Unbeheld, preserve me from the goat-wielding fanatics of Irish Humanism!

[THR]

Religion and politics should be separated and the constitution of a country is very much politics. The very fact that there is an established church in every European country, amazes me.Yet again, in countries such as the USA, where there is no national religion, people on the whole are much more religious than in Europe, which is not good either.

I`m an agnostic but I come from a protestant but very secularized country.

[Sidewinder]

There's no established church in Ireland. Granted, the vast majority of religious believers happen to be Catholic, but that's a very different thing from the Catholic Church being the established or official State religion.

[merle haggard]

Secularism is only a front for these "humanists" to try and pass themselves off as respectable members of society . They are very strange people as a grouping and need careful watching in my opinion .