Atheists urge council hopefuls to make secularism pledge

Sean McMahon

The newly formed local branch of Atheist Ireland will be seeking assurances from candidates from the forthcoming elections to sign up to a secular pledge.
Based in Monaghan Town, the Cavan/Monaghan branch claim that attendance at their monthly 'Secular Sunday Brunches’ is increasing with “a couple of dozen” at their last get together.
Atheist Ireland member John Hamill revealed that with the upcoming Local and European elections on the horizon, they will be contacting each of the parties and candidates urging them to sign up to a secular statement.
“We believe the statement is entirely non-controversial,” assured John. “We would have a view, that if for example someone is of the Roman Catholic faith, we don’t want to interfere with that in anyway, shape or form and we don’t think the State should interfere with the practice of their faith in any way. Our simple request is that they would do us the same courtesy. So while we would not suggest anything in relation to how they bring their children up for example, in their own chosen faith, we would request that they would not impose their faith on our children.
“That is really the tenor behind the secular statement,” explained Mr Hamill.
The secular statement also refers to secular education and that the citizens in Cavan and Monaghan should have the option of a secular education for their children.
“While all children may be taught about the diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs in an objective manner, no faith formation with respect to any particular religion should be imposed.
“Children in Cavan/Monaghan should be educated in ethical, reasoned and critical thinking, with science education being free from religious interference. Children in Cavan/Monaghan whose parents desire a secular education for them, either due to an absence of religious faith or due to a wish for faith formation to take place outside of school hours, should not be ostracised or disadvantaged,” he said.
Mr Hamill observes that the Irish Constitution is overtly Christian.
“In the preamble to the constitution, I believe it says, 'all Irish people humbly acknowledge our obligation to Jesus Christ’ – all Irish people clearly don’t. One of the campaigns we have is to try and see the religious elements of the Constitution removed, and one of those is the crime of blasphemy,” says John.
The Cavan Monaghan secular statement he expects political candidates to sign up to also refers to the Constitution: “The sovereignty of the Irish State is derived from the people and not from any god or gods. The Constitution of Ireland should be changed to remove all obligations to specific deities,” he contends.
John Hamill grew up on the Falls Road in Belfast, and after working in Dublin for seven years, settled in Castleblayney with his wife and new baby. They now have a family of four.
He said that they envisage taking a stand at some of the markets around the county to increase awareness. “I’m pretty confident that the numbers will grow from there,” he said.
Athiest Ireland are creating local groups to inform the public about atheism and their policies in order to achieve an ethical, secular Ireland. He explains:
“If consenting adults are engaging in behaviour that does not hurt the freedom of anyone else, then that should be no business of the State,” said John Hamill.
The next secular brunch meeting will take place in April, at a location in Cavan Town.