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Editorial
The influence of religious ethos in schools
 In Ireland it is legally possible for schools to influence your child into a religious way of life, but only to some degree. In practice, the State and schools ignore this limit, and enforce their religious ethos in a way that is contrary to the ruling of the Supreme Court in the Campaign to Separate Church and State case in 1998.
The Supreme Court said that if you choose to send your child to a school with a religious ethos, the school is not obliged to change its general atmosphere to accommodate your objections. But the State allows schools to integrate a religious ethos into all syllabus subjects. This goes beyond the ‘general atmosphere’ of the school that the Court referred to.
Also, the Courts have never examined a case in relation to a student who had no choice but to attend a school with a religious ethos, because there were no nondenominational schools available. Minority parents have exactly the same Constitutional rights as Catholic parents, and it is the duty of the State to protect our Constitutional rights.
Atheist Ireland will continue to campaign for the rights of minority parents in the education system. As always, if you would like to help us to continue this work, please join Atheist Ireland as a member. We are a voluntary body with no paid staff, and we depend on our members to continue our work. You can join here.
– Secular Sunday Editorial Team
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Éire Aindiach
Éire Aindiach
Chun ár gcuid feachtais a leathnú agus a neartú, tá sé beartaithe ag Éire Aindiach níos mó úsáid a bhaint as an Ghaeilge.
Ba mhaith linn meitheal a eagrú, chun cuidiú le:
- Polasaithe agus feachtais Éire Aindiach a phlé ar an raidió nó ar an teilifís
- Cuidiú le doiciméid ghaeilge a scríobh
- Bualadh le polaiteoirí chun stocaireacht a dhéanamh
Táimid i mbun aistriúcháin a dhéanamh ar dhoiciméid polasaí faoi láthair, agus teastaíonn cabhair uainn le aistriúchán agus profáil. Más maith leat bheith páirteach san iarracht seo, cur ríomhphost chugainn ag gaeilge@atheist.ie.
English translation:
To broaden and strengthen our campaigns, Atheist Ireland have undertaken to make more use of the Irish language.
We are looking to assemble a group of volunteers, to help with:
- Discussing our policies and campaigns on radio or tv
- Helping to write documents in Irish
- Meeting with politicians to lobby them
We are in the process of translating policy documents at the moment, and we need some help with translating and proofreading. If you would like to assist with this effort, please email us at gaeilge@atheist.ie.
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Atheist Ireland News
Irish schools ignore legal limits on how religious ethos can influence students
In Ireland it is legally possible for schools to influence your child into a religious way of life, but only to some degree. In practice, the State and schools ignore this limit, and enforce their religious ethos in a way that is contrary to the ruling of the Supreme Court.
The vast majority of schools in Ireland have a religious ethos. This includes schools under the patronage of religious bodies but also Education and Training Boards schools which are classed as denominational, interdenominational and multi denominational.
The Supreme Court has said that if you choose to send your child to a school with a religious ethos, the school is not obliged to change its general atmosphere to accommodate your objections.
“The Constitution therefore distinguishes between religious “education” and religious “instruction” – the former being the much wider term. A child who attends a school run by a religious denomination different from his own may have a constitutional right not to attend religious instruction at that school but the Constitution cannot protect him from being influenced, to some degree, by the religious “ethos” of the school. A religious denomination is not obliged to change the general atmosphere of its school merely to accommodate a child of a different religious persuasion who wishes to attend that school.”
(page 26 Campaign to Separate Church and State case 1998)
However, the Department of Education has no guidelines on what influencing children ‘to some degree’ means on the ground in schools. Patron bodies, schools and teachers are not required to be concerned about how a religious ethos will impact on students from minority backgrounds.
In fact, teachers are legally obliged under Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act to uphold the ethos of the Patron. Boards of Management make policy and teachers are legally obliged to implement school policy.
The state has decided that integrating a religious ‘ethos’ into the ‘general atmosphere’ of schools means integrating a religious ‘ethos’ into all syllabus subjects. This is despite the fact that the Supreme Court referred specially to ‘ethos’ in the ‘general atmosphere’ of the school and not to syllabus subjects.
Also, the courts in Ireland have never examined a case in relation to a student who had no choice but to attend a school with a religious ethos, because there were no nondenominational schools available.
Constitutional rights, including the right to education, have to be possible to exercise in practice. They cannot be theoretical or illusory.
Yet many parents from minority backgrounds have a choice, on a take it or leave it basis, between schools with a religious ethos or home schooling their children. And most parents cannot home school their children for various reasons, so that right is illusory.
Are we to take it that the Constitution envisages that parents from the majority religion in the country have more rights in relation to the religious and moral education of their children that parents from minority backgrounds?
Are we to take it that Patron bodies and schools can influence our children into a religious understanding of the world to ‘any degree’ by integrating religion into syllabus subjects?
We don’t think so. We believe that minority parents have exactly the same Constitutional rights as Catholic parents. We also believe that it is the duty of the State to protect our Constitutional rights.
The Constitution does not envisage that minorities will be left on a take it or leave it basis, to a religious education for their children or no education at all. Atheist Ireland will continue to campaign for the rights of minority parents in the education system. Read online…
Religion in schools – Letter to the Irish Times
 Sir, – Atheist Ireland has asked the United Nations to raise religious discrimination in Irish schools when it next questions Ireland on economic, social, and cultural rights. We have also made a complaint to the Comptroller and Auditor General about the misuse of public funds regarding the teaching of religion in Irish schools.
The Government aims to have 400 multidenominational schools by 2030. This clearly is not happening, as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has told the UN. And even if it did happen, it would not address the problem.
Schools that are multidenominational are still religious schools. They do not respect the freedom of conscience of atheist families. Instead we need non-denominational schools, which treat everyone equally and do not promote either religion or atheism.
Also, even if they existed, having 400 multidenominational schools would not solve the problem, as most parents would not be able to access these schools. Having multiple school patrons, each with their own ethos, is the problem not the solution.
As an immediate step, schools must allow children to leave the classroom during religion class. Atheist Ireland has made a complaint to the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General about this, as schools that receive public funding are constitutionally obliged to do this.
Parents have a legitimate expectation that the State will fulfil its constitutional duty to protect their constitutional rights, and to fund the protection of these rights, and to not fund the erosion of these rights. The Department of Education is aware that many schools refuse to vindicate this right, yet the department still gives them funding.
Atheist Ireland has also asked the UN to raise the right to objective sex education, and Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, which allows publicly funded schools to discriminate against teachers on the ground of religion.
Ireland is no longer a Catholic country. We are now a pluralist country with Catholic laws that we are gradually dismantling.
The most important next step is removing the anachronistic control that the Catholic Church has over the education of our children. – Yours, etc, Read online…
Why so many Catholic schools in Ireland?
The governments plan for 400 multi-denominational schools is not happening, and even if it did happen, it would not solve the problem. Michael Nugent discussed this on Newstalk Breakfast
*|YOUTUBE: [$vid=7mmTY3v1zmg]|*
Atheist Ireland raises religious discrimination in Irish schools with UN and C&AG
 Atheist Ireland has asked the United Nations to raise religious discrimination in Irish schools when it next questions Ireland on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. We have also made a complaint to the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General about the misuse of public funds regarding the teaching of religion in Irish schools.
The Irish Government aims to have 400 multi-denominational schools by 2030. This clearly is not happening, as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has told the UN. And even if it did happen, it would not address the problem.
Multi-denominational schools are still religious schools. They do not respect the freedom of conscience of atheist families. Instead we need non-denominational schools, which treat everyone equally and do not promote either religion or atheism.
Also, even if they existed, having 400 multi-denominational schools would not solve the problem, as most parents would not be able to access these schools. Having multiple school patrons, each with their own ethos, is the problem not the solution.
As an immediate step, schools must allow children to leave the classroom during religion class. Atheist Ireland has made a complaint to the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General about this, as schools that receive public funding are constitutionally obliged to do this.
Parents have a legitimate expectation that the State will fulfil its Constitutional duty to protect their Constitutional rights, and to fund the protection of these rights, and to not fund the erosion of these rights. The Department of Education is aware that many schools refuse to vindicate this right, yet the Department still gives them funding.
Atheist Ireland has also asked the UN to raise the right to objective sex education, and Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, which allows publicly funded schools to discriminate against teachers on the ground of religion.
Ireland is no longer a Catholic country. We are now a pluralist country with Catholic laws that we are gradually dismantling. The most important next step is removing the anachronistic control that the Catholic Church has over the education of our children.
Atheist Ireland submission to UN Committee on ESC Rights
Atheist ireland complaint to Comptroller and Auditor General
Read online…
Census on April the 3rd – Be honest to Godless
Know your rights
 If the schools do not have the resources to provide supervision outside of the religion class it is because they have misallocated funds that they were obliged to allocate as a Constitutional condition of accepting State funding. From our complaint to the Comptroller and Auditor General on the misuse of public funds by the Dept of Education.
From Atheist Ireland’s submission to the UN on the establishment of non denominational schools in Ireland.
The state target of establishing 400 multi denominational schools will never be achieved.
The UN has asked the Irish state to open up non denominational schools not non denominational schools.
Multi denomination means just that, multi denominational. Atheism and humanism are not denominations so the term multi denominational is not inclusive.
Many multi denominational schools in the ETB sector operate as catholic schools while claiming that they are inclusive.
Calling concerned teachers
If you are a teacher and concerned about unwanted religious influence contact Chris at teachers@atheist.ie
List of Atheist Ireland Submissions
Buy this book “Is My Family Odd About Gods?”
**Schools Special Offer**
Atheist Ireland are offering the book ‘Is my family odd about gods‘ free (excluding postage and packaging). This means that you can get this book for the total price of 10 euro. This offer is aimed at families with school going children, who would like to read this book. This offer is limited to one book per family unit and for postage within Ireland only. Read more…
Have you noticed that your school and your teachers may tell you one thing about religion, while some of your friends and family may have different ideas about god?
If you think that this is a little odd, then this book is for you. Buy this book here.
Lessons about Atheism
Atheist Ireland has published a set of free lesson plans about atheism for children aged 8 and up. We welcome feedback, which we will use to develop the lessons. You can download the lesson plans here
 Be Good without Gods
Atheist Ireland ‘Good Without Gods’ Kiva team members have made loans of $35,325 to 1226 entrepreneurs in the developing world. You can join the team here. Before you chose a loan, make sure you do not support religious groups. You can check the loan partner’s social and secular rating here.
Notme.ie
Atheist Ireland’s ‘notme.ie‘ is a place where people can publicly renounce the religion of their childhood. Currently there are 1894 symbolic defections. Many share their reasons for making a public symbolic defection which you can read here.
Petition on Schools Equality PACT
Atheist Ireland currently runs one petition – The Schools Equality PACT. This seeks to reform religious discrimination in state-funded schools. Currently this stands at 4,102 Help us reach it’s target of 5000. Please sign and share this petition if you haven’t already done so. Thank you.
Tell us what you think
Have you any feedback that you would like to give us on the Secular Sunday newsletter. What are we getting right? What could we improve on? Is there something you would like to see included? Drop us an email at secularsunday@atheist.ie.
Please consider joining or re-joining Atheist Ireland
Atheist Ireland is an entirely volunteer run organisation. We receive no grants or government funding to continue our campaign work. We rely entirely on membership fess and donations.
Annual membership is nominal; €25 waged, €10 unwaged/student and €40 for family membership. Please consider becoming a member. Membership means:
- You can help to build an ethical and secular Ireland.
- You have a say in determining policy and electing officers.
- You can attend members meetings and our AGM.
- You will have access to our members only Facebook group
- Your membership fee will go towards supporting our many campaigns.
You can join Atheist Ireland here.
Thank you for your continued support
Atheist Ireland Committee
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Opinion and Media
Material on atheism, secularism, human rights,politics,science etc. collected from media and the blogosphere from Ireland and beyond; used without permission, compensation, liability, guarantee or implied endorsement. We aim to include a variety of diverse opinions and viewpoints.
Blogs & Opinions
National
Schools must allow children leave during religion class, says Atheist Ireland
By Patsy McGarry
The UN must raise the issue of religious discrimination Irish schools with the Dublin Government, Atheist Ireland has said.“Ireland is no longer a Catholic country. We are now a pluralist country with Catholic laws that we are gradually dismantling. The most important next step is removing the anachronistic control that the Catholic Church has over the education of our children,” it said in a statement. Read online…
Government to propose new bank holiday from St Brigids Day 2023
By RTE News Online
The Government is working on a proposal to have a “double bank holiday” for St Patrick’s Day this year and a new bank holiday for St Brigid’s Day on 1 February, according to the Tánaiste. Leo Varadkar said the purpose of the day would be to remember all of those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic and to recognise frontline workers. Read online…
On This Day: Mary Raftery, the journalist who exposed clerical abuse of children, passed away
By Kate Hickey
Mary Raftery, the Irish journalist behind “States of Fear” and “Behind the Walls,” is remembered on the anniversary of her death. Mary Raftery, Irish journalist, filmmaker, and writer, died from ovarian cancer on January 10, 2012 at the age of 54 years old. Nominated in 2011 for “NNI National Journalist of the Year” for her work in exposing the clerical abuse of children in Ireland, Raftery was regarded as one of the country’s finest investigative journalists exposing not only clerical abuse but abuse in the Irish childcare system and the appalling conditions within the country’s psychiatric units. Read more…
Call to clarify when schools can refuse students on basis of religion
By Noel Baker
The country’s human rights watchdog has told Government that Ireland’s equality laws need urgent reform, including greater protections for carers and clarity on when private primary schools and all secondary schools can refuse to admit a student on the basis of religion. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has issued a raft of recommendations to Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman, as part of the review of existing laws. Read more…
Progress on multi-denominational schools too ‘slow’
By Carl O’Brien
The Government has been criticised for its “slow” progress in providing access to multi-denominational education as new figures show Catholic schools account for 89 per cent of primary schools. The Programme for Government commits to improving parental choice by meeting a target of delivering 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030. However, new figures show there are 164 multi-denominational schools compared with 2,750 Catholic primary schools. Read more…
International
‘Gone by 2040’: Why some religions are declining in Canada faster than ever
By Ashleigh Stewart
It’s Advent Sunday and snow is falling thick and fast outside the front doors of the soaring, neo-Gothic bell tower of the Metropolitan United Church in downtown Toronto. A tiny crowd huddles around a black Weber grill, emitting brief puffs of smoke as a crackling fire battles the elements. Read more…
Is Proselytizing Ever Okay? Are We All Proselytizing All The Time?
By Chrissy Stroop
Excuse me, reader, but would you have a moment to talk about the obnoxious practice of asking people to talk about “our” lord and savior? In a previous piece for RD, one of the reasons I gave for why America’s conversation about Christianity is “fundamentally unserious” is that our elite public sphere systemically silences “the voices of leavers, nonbelievers, and religious minorities in discussing Christianity and ‘religious freedom.’” Read more…
Ending religion lessons in schools leads to overall decline in belief but not morals
By Torsten Bell
Losing My Religion was one of the defining songs of my youth, thanks to REM. Rather more importantly (unless you care a lot about teenage angst) our collective loss of belief matters hugely for how society has evolved. When I was born, twice as many of us were Christians as had no religion. Today, more of us are atheists than Christians and it appears only slightly over half of British Christians believe in God. Read online…
If you are a blogger or vlogger writing or talking about atheism, secularism, ethics, skepticism, human rights etc. and would like us to include your work here please email the link to secularsunday@atheist.ie
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