Religion

23 June 2014

Atheist Ireland to brief UN Human Rights Committee about Ireland’s failure to protect rights of Atheists and Secularists

This July Ireland will be examined by the UN Human Rights Committee under the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights. By ratifying this UN Treaty Ireland has guaranteed to protect the Human Rights guaranteed in the Treaty to all within its territory. Atheist Ireland...

7 May 2014

The Political Sin of Vincible Ignorance

The Chair of Atheist Ireland’s Cavan/Monaghan Branch John Hamill writing on the Taoiseach, the canonization of Pope John Paul, Mormons, Saint Anthony of Padua and Senator Ronan Mullen. By John Hamill While the Taoiseach was taking his place during the ceremony in Rome to canonize...

1 May 2014

‘Parental Choice’ in education is a euphemism for religious segregation

In a speech yesterday the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said that pluralism is something we should welcome. He said that, “The Catholic children of the Ireland of the future will live in a climate of pluralism and must learn not to fear pluralism but...

9 April 2014

Senators raise Atheist Ireland concerns and proposals about religious job discrimination law

The concerns and proposals raised by Atheist Ireland in our briefing document to Senators were raised in the Seanad today, during a Committee Stage debate on Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act. This is the Section that allows religious institutions, including schools and hospitals,...

7 April 2014

Please ask Irish Senators today to oppose religious job discrimination in Seanad tomorrow, Wednesday 9 April

This Wednesday 9 April, Irish Senators will discuss a Bill that aims to amend Section 37 of the Irish Employment Equality Act. This is the Section that allows religious institutions, including schools and hospitals, an exemption to discriminate against employees to protect the religious ethos...

21 March 2014

How Ireland must comply with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Atheist Ireland has made the following written submission to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on Ireland’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 1. Overview The key priorities and challenges facing Ireland in complying with the ICCPR are to comply with Articles...

5 March 2014

Oireachtas Committee calls for integration not segregation in schools, as proposed by Atheist Ireland

The Oireachtas joint Committee on Education has concluded that multiple patronage and ethos as a basis for policy can lead to segregation and inequality in the education system, and that the objectives of admission policy should be equality and integration. This reflects the arguments made...

25 February 2014

Rules for secular marriage? The Irish Civil Registration Service is making it up as they go along

In Ireland, to solemnise marriages under the Civil Registration Act, secular bodies must be ethical and humanist and cannot promote a political cause. On the other hand if you are a religious body that wants to solemnise marriages, you are not required to be ethical...

20 November 2013

Religion harms society: Michael Nugent’s speech at The Oxford Union

This is video and script of Michael Nugent’s speech at the Oxford Union debate on 7 November, where he proposed the motion That Religion Harms Society. Also proposing the motion were David Silverman, Peter Atkins, Nonie Darwish and Peter Millican. Opposing the motion were Mehrunissa...

20 November 2013

Religion harms society: Michael Nugent's speech at The Oxford Union

This is video and script of Michael Nugent’s speech at the Oxford Union debate on 7 November, where he proposed the motion That Religion Harms Society. Also proposing the motion were David Silverman, Peter Atkins, Nonie Darwish and Peter Millican. Opposing the motion were Mehrunissa...