Secular Sunday #96 – Pick ‘n’ Mix

So here we are again. Quite a lot to keep you busy this week, whether you like political campaigning, reading about atheism, watching people argue about religion, or even getting the experience of church without any of that God malarkey. Take what you like and leave what you don’t.

– Derek Walsh, Editor

News

• The Constitutional Convention will be at the National University of Ireland,Galway (NUIG) next Wednesday 30 October.
  The Constitutional Convention is holding public meetings throughout Ireland to get the views of the public on changing the Constitution. You can give your views on the separation of Church and State to the Constitutional Convention for consideration in the next phase of the Convention’s agenda.
  Atheist Ireland’s Regional Officer, Kevin Sheehan will be attending this meeting.  He will be there at 6.30 pm if you would like to meet and discuss the meeting.
  Atheist Ireland has recently made two Submissions to the Constitutional Convention.
  You can find information on the work of the Constitutional Convention here.
  1. A Secular Constitution for a pluralist people.
  2. Economic Social and Cultural Rights without discrimination.
• The Equality Authority is seeking Submissions on the Proposed amendment to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998-2011. (This section exempts religious-owned institutions from some parts of the Act). Submissions are welcome in electronic format to submissions@equality.ie  and should be no more than 2,000 words in length. The deadline is Wednesday 13 November 2013. Read more
• Last Wednesday the UCD Literary and Historical Society debated: “That this house would believe in a god.” Opposing the motion were Michael Nugent, Peter O’Hara, Peter Ferguson and Lucy Murphy. Videos of all their speeches (and of those supporting the motion) are on our YouTube channel.
• Atheist Ireland member Andrew Devine-Rattigan appeared on last Monday’sBeyond Belief on RTE 1 discussing God and the media. You can watch the entire programme here.
• Reminder: Atheist Ireland is developing  Ireland’s first ever primary school course about atheism. Please donate to help us make this course a reality. Learn more. [sdonations]1[/sdonations]
• Reminder: There is still time for members of the public to make a submission to the Department of Education on inclusiveness in schools. Read more

Calendar

All events are free and open to everyone unless otherwise stated.

• Tuesday 29 October, 6:00 pm, Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North., Dublin 1 (map)
  The launch of the book Faithless: A Journey Out of Religion with Stops for Light Refreshment Along the Way by Tony Philpott.
• Wednesday 30 October, 7:30 pm, NUI Galway (map)
  Public meeting of the Constitutional Convention. See News section for more details.
• Thursday 31 October, 10:00 am, Carmelite Centre, Aungier St., Dublin 2 (map)
  ‘Promoting a Constitutional Convention Debate on economic, social and cultural rights’, an information meeting to support participation by civil society and community organisations in calling for an examination of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights by the Constitutional Convention.Read more
• Friday 1 November, 7:00 pm, The Little Museum of Dublin, 15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 (map)
  The first ever Dublin Sunday Assembly (yes, we know it’s on a Friday!) The Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation that meets to hear great talks, sing songs and generally celebrate the wonder of life. It’s a service for anyone who wants to live better, help often and wonder more. Learn more and register
• Saturday 2 November, 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm, GPO, O’Connell St., Dublin 1 (map)
  Brendan Maher and friends will be outside the GPO with a stall promoting atheism, secularism and humanism. Email Brendan if you want to help or for further information.
• Sunday 3 November, 4:00 pm, Buswell’s Hotel, Molesworth St., Dublin 2 (map)
  Monthly meeting of the Humanist Association of Ireland. Facebook event page

Bloggage

The most senior Roman Catholic official in Ireland is Cardinal Brady. He’s a loyal man. Back in the 70s, while investigating the actions of child rapist, Father Brendan Smyth, he swore some of the children who had been raped by his colleague to silence.  -datbeardyman on the problems with loyalty.