This week John Hamill obtained a copy of the Religious Sisters of Charity Health Service Philosophy and Ethical Code under the Freedom of Information Act. As well as explicitly forbidding abortion, this Code is couched in anachronistic language such as couples ‘being united in the covenant of marriage’ and ‘bypassing the normal marital act’.The Saint Vincent’s Hospital Group says that this Code is no longer active and will not apply to the new National Maternity Hospital. But the Code says that, with respect to any partnership of co-operation or source of funding that will affect the Sisters of Charity healthcare mission, the ethical identity and the catholic ethos of our services must be respected and not compromised.

The State should not cede even indirect control or influence over essential public services to a charity associated with the Catholic church, which has an appalling record of human rights abuses and an ethos that opposes reproductive rights for women. The State should remove, not reinforce, the traditional privileges that religious bodies have in our healthcare provision.

You can help us to campaign on this and other secular issues by joining Atheist Ireland as a member, or by asking anybody who you think may be interested in joining us to do so. We are an entirely voluntary body with no paid staff, and we depend on our members to continue our work. You can join Atheist Ireland here.

This week John Hamill obtained a copy of the Religious Sisters of Charity Health Service Philosophy and Ethical Code under the Freedom of Information Act. The Saint Vincent’s Hospital Group had refused to give it to him, but John appealed and the Office of the Information Commissioner overruled the hospital.
As well as explicitly forbidding abortion, this Code is couched in anachronistic language such as couples ‘being united in the covenant of marriage’ and ‘bypassing the normal marital act’.
The Saint Vincent’s Hospital Group says that this Code is no longer active and will not apply to the new National Maternity Hospital. But the Code includes the following statement:

“We hold that with respect to any partnership of co-operation or source of funding that will affect our healthcare mission, the ethical identity and the catholic ethos of our services must be respected. Our healthcare services will participate and co-operate insofar as our Philosophy, Mission, and Ethical Code are not compromised.”

So what are these principles that must not be compromised? They include:

“We respect the sacredness of human life… This belongs to all persons from conception to their natural end… We believe that each and every person is unique and made in the image and likeness of God…” (page 1)
“All those who choose to work in our healthcare facilities are made aware of and asked to comply with the core values as expressed in this Mission Statement and Ethical Code” (page 2)
“In our Healthcare Service, healthcare is provided in the context of a Catholic ethos, and is interpreted in accordance with its teaching tradition…” (page 4)
“Direct abortion is never permitted since it constitutes the intentional killing of the unborn. Also any procedure, the direct purpose of which is to destroy the embryo at any stage of its development, either by preventing it from implantation, or removing it from the womb before it is viable, or by any other procedure is never permitted.” (page 11)
“Direct sterilisation of either men or women is not permitted in our healthcare service when its sole immediate objective is to prevent or eliminate fertility. These are procedures which our healthcare institutions may not promote.” (page 11)
“We recognise the dignity of a man and woman as spouses, who united in the covenant of marriage are called to be parents of equal dignity to them… We consider that any means of assisting conception which cannot correct the condition of the couple’s infertility and which bypass the normal marital act in which conception occurs are not acceptable in our healthcare services.” (page 11)

The State should not cede even indirect control or influence over essential public services to a charity associated with the Catholic church, which has an appalling record of human rights abuses and an ethos that opposes reproductive rights for women.
Whatever assurances it might seem to give, the Catholic church simply cannot be trusted. State tribunals found that its Bishops positively lied to and deliberately misled them to cover up crimes.
We should not trust any deal approved by the Vatican, which is the headquarters of a global religion that poses as a quasi-State when it suits its purposes. Its primary mission is not to provide healthcare, but to evangelise people into Catholicism.
The State should remove, not reinforce, the traditional privileges that religious bodies have in our healthcare provision.
You can read the full Philosophy and Ethical Code here
Read online…

This week Atheist Ireland had a letter published in the Irish Times

Letter to the Irish Times –  Schools and preparation for sacraments

Sir, – Reports that the Catholic Church in Dublin is to start moving the preparation of children for sacraments out of the classroom are welcome, but they are exaggerated when compared to the full policy document published by the archdiocese (“Church set to move children’s preparation for sacraments from classroom to parish”, News, September 17th).
The full policy document says that schools will continue to “educate children for the sacraments”, with “content specific to” each sacrament being “a two-year process”. Whatever this means, it seems to have quite an overlap with preparing children for sacraments.
The policy document also contains a statement that highlights the double standards of the Catholic Church with regard to the role of parents. It says: “Parents have an irreplaceable role as primary agents in their children’s faith life. Parish and school seek to support the primary role of the parents in partnership with them.”
State-funded schools should also apply this principle to parents who are atheists or are members of minority religious faiths, but of course they don’t. Atheist Ireland continues to campaign for secular State-funded schools that treat everybody equally regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Schools should teach, and churches should preach. – Yours, etc, Read online…

Six years ago this week, Atheist Ireland addressed the UN Human Rights Council. We raised blasphemy, abortion, and religious discrimination in schools. Ireland has changed a lot since then. The blasphemy and abortion bans are gone. We are still campaigning for secular schools.

Atheist Ireland’s ‘notme.ie‘ is a place where people can publicly renounce the religion of their childhood. Currently there are 1949 symbolic defections. Many share their reasons for making a public symbolic defection which you can read here. 

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National

Mixed-raced people had ‘childhood stolen’ in Irish institutions & redress must be extended, UN says

By Órla Ryan

Ireland

• Evangelical preachers sue Garda over alleged breach of religious freedom
• ‘Historic’ shift for Northern Ireland but what do the Census findings tell us about its future?
• More Catholics than Protestants in Northern Ireland for first time, census finds
• Standoff between Dublin community and local priest over access to parish hall
• UN concern over redress for racism in mother and baby homes

International

• • Oglala Sioux ban missionary, require ministries to register
  • Church of England Stops Desmond Tutu’s Daughter From Officiating Funeral
  • Talk of a public appetite for religion is wishful thinking
  • How Destiny Church ‘told women sex acts were God’s will’ and is accused of leaving worshippers penniless
  • White House blasts near-complete ban on abortion in Arizona
  • The difficulties of getting an abortion in Italy
  • Linda Ronstadt on her new book, Parkinson’s disease, racism and religion: ‘I’m a practicing atheist’
  • Experts Highlight CEE Trend of Abortion Limits Being Imposed in Face of Public Opinion
  • Bishop arrested mid-sermon after altercation with two women in church
  • Exclusion of Afghan girls from high schools ‘shameful’, says UN