Blasphemy law in ireland

[Hound01]

Ireland is introducing a blasphemy law with a 25,000 euro fine for "...the publication or utterance of blasphemous matter..." :jaw-dropp

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0713/1224250543694.html

What does everyone think? Is this a return to the middle ages? Are religionists going to use this to beat atheists into submission?

[UNLoVedRebel]

The first amendment doesn't apply in the state of Ireland? :wackylaugh:

[lionking]

A recent thread on exactly the same topic. Perhaps you might want them to be merged?

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=149818

[Puppycow]

IIRC from another thread, blasphemy was already against the law in Ireland.

This is the preamble to the Irish Constitution:
Preamble (full text)

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred,
We, the people of Éire,
Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial,
Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation,
And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations,
Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.

[Hound01]

A recent thread on exactly the same topic. Perhaps you might want them to be merged?

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=149818
Sorry, I hadn't seen the other thread. Yes, the 2 should be merged. How do you do that?

[lionking]

Sorry, I hadn't seen the other thread. Yes, the 2 should be merged. How do you do that?
PM a mod.

[fuelair]

IIRC from another thread, blasphemy was already against the law in Ireland.

This is the preamble to the Irish Constitution:




That is truly pathetic.