Jesus, another referendum on its way -blasphemy

Seems the Irish government are already splashing the money generated from Irish water.

We are set to have another referendum, this time its blasphemy they want to get our votes on!

IRISH VOTERS WILL have be asked to vote on whether to remove the crime of blasphemy from the Constitution, it was announced this morning.
Junior Minister Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin told the Dáil:

The Government accepts the main recommendation of the [Constitutional Convention], which is that a referendum should be held on removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution.

Article 40 of the Irish Constitution states that:

The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.
Furthermore, Section 36 of the 2009 Defamation Act outlines a fine of up to €25,000 for anyone convicted of the offence.

http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-blasphemy-law-referendum-1702243-Oct2014/


Cant wait!:rolleyes:

MonkeyTennis

Well,Holy God.

Timberrrrrrrr

irishfreeview wrote: »

Seems the Irish government are already splashing the money generated from Irish water.

We are set to have another referendum, this time its blasphemy they want to get our votes on!



http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-blasphemy-law-referendum-1702243-Oct2014/


Cant wait!:rolleyes:

So we should just keep antiquated laws?

uch

Fuking country is Nuts if we have to spend several millions on a Referendum to abolish a fuking Gobbledegook law

GLaDOS

It is a bit silly though, in fairness. Unfortunately requires a referendum to change the constitution.

Jehovah! Jehovah!

I think it's a good step. That ridiculous blasphemy law should never have existed in the first place. Sure, there are more pressing matters they should be dealing with (getting rid of the eighth amendment, for one) but that doesn't negate the importance of this. I'd rather they spend a (relatively small) amount of money on a referendum than keep that antiquated shít in our constitution.

AnonoBoy

For the love of Jehovah and by the power of Jesus t*tty-f*cking Christ, what's this all about then?

Donkey Oaty

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

Temptamperu

Its about time.

uch

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

I'd say there'd be a record turnout if that happened

pconn062

This we can have a referendum on, while the government insist on kicking the abortion debate down the road.

Donkey Oaty

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

Would be great but I bet you'd still have a lot of idiots voting NO solely as a misguided and useless protest against "teh gubberment".

Draco

You are aware that there's been a Constitutional Convention looking at reviewing the constitution for about the last year?

There's going to be at least 3 referendums and more likely 5 next year - on same-sex marriage, voting age, minimum age of presidential candidates, blasphemy and the role of women in the home.

But hey, no problem with having something in the constitution that limits speech because some people think that believing in a sky fairy and not having that challenged is more important.

BoJack Horseman

irishfreeview wrote: »

Seems the Irish government are already splashing the money generated from Irish water.

We are set to have another referendum, this time its blasphemy they want to get our votes on!



http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-blasphemy-law-referendum-1702243-Oct2014/


Cant wait!:rolleyes:

Lots of threads.... Lots of agenda.

Zero solution.

strobe

Ah jaysus, surely this could be put on the long finger until we have a few other things to refer (is that the verb for what you do at a referendum..? Referend..? Rendum..?) at the same time?

pconn062

pconn062 wrote: »

This we can have a referendum on, while the government insist on kicking the abortion debate down the road.

I think a lot of activists would be left pretty surprised if they got their wish for a referendum.

Red Alert

Should bundle it in with the other issues to save money. Is it really that urgent? I mean you could probably cart off the entire clientele of any pub in one night: "ah for jaysus sake ya"...

PopePalpatine

The "No" side of this debate for the referendum will be hilarious to watch.

Bongalongherb

Sometimes I think I'm living in the twilight-zone with all of this sh!te. There are more pressing issues to deal with than this ancient junk.

Smiles35

I think it's a little silly to get rid of it with all the Islamic stuff going on the last few years.

blue note

I'm going to spoil my vote by call god an awful prick. Depending on what way the vote goes I could be in trouble!

BoJack Horseman

Red Alert wrote: »

Should bundle it in with the other issues to save money. Is it really that urgent? I mean you could probably cart off the entire clientele of any pub in one night: "ah for jaysus sake ya"...

It probably will be.
The SSM referendum is in 2015, this will probably be done on the same day. (To be divided though).

Fixing a rotten constitution piece by piece should be urgent alright

minotour

Can we propose an add-on to remove the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings ban? If so then i say we go for it!

anncoates

A referendum is needed to change constitution.

People criticize governments for disenfranchising people but then when people are given the chance to repeal anachronistic laws, they moan.

I assume they'll probably tack it on to the next election ballot so the cost won't be as much of an issue.

BoJack Horseman

anncoates wrote: »

People criticize governments for disenfranchising people but then when people are given the chance to repeal anachronistic laws, they moan.

Indeed.

In the last 4 years we've been twice given the chance to change how politics runs in Ireland & on both occasions we rejected it.

Yet b*tch about politics never changing.

The_Valeyard

Sure it will just end up under 'hate speech' laws instead of a the the blasphemy legistation. Rightly so.

uch

minotour wrote: »

Can we propose an add-on to remove the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings ban? If so then i say we go for it!

And Good Friday, Christmas Day

Bongalongherb

I've never heard of an Irish person being charged for blasphemy in my lifetime, and I'm ancient.

BoJack Horseman

minotour wrote: »

Can we propose an add-on to remove the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings ban? If so then i say we go for it!

That law can be changed at a moments notice by the Dáil.

Stupidly they prefer nanny state to reign instead.

anncoates

Bongalongherb wrote: »

I've never heard of an Irish person being charged for blasphemy in my lifetime, and I'm ancient.

Even if it's a rhetorical point, isn't it still a good thing on principle to see another religious part of the Constitution chipped away?

Or does AH prefer snide trolling of normal Catholics to actually doing something to slowly erode the influence of church on our state?

Bongalongherb

anncoates wrote: »

Even if it's a rhetorical point, isn't it still a good thing on principle to see another religious part of the Constitution chipped away?

Or does AH prefer snide trolling of normal Catholics to actually doing something to slowly erode the influence of church on our state?

I'm atheist, so the sooner the better this blasphemy law is discarded the better. I care not for religion in any shape or form.

Pumpkinseeds

I know there has to be a referendum in order to change the legislation, but surely there isn't any urgent need for a referendum on it any time soon. There would be an extremely low turnout to vote, who gives a crap about that law

BoJack Horseman

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I know there has to be a referendum in order to change the legislation, but surely there isn't any urgent need for a referendum on it any time soon. There would be an extremely low turnout to vote, who gives a crap about that law

Its not a great constitution.
Why not change it sooner rather than later?

krudler

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I know there has to be a referendum in order to change the legislation, but surely there isn't any urgent need for a referendum on it any time soon. There would be an extremely low turnout to vote, who gives a crap about that law

Nobody has ever been charged with it, that I know of anyway. But more separation of church and state is good.

Smiles35

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Sure it will just end up under 'hate speech' laws instead of a the the blasphemy legistation. Rightly so.

I suppose, but do you remember that case in Norway with the cartonist. That caused riots in some places. I'd much rather Ireland presented with some religous heritage abroad than none.

CramCycle

Draco wrote: »

You are aware that there's been a Constitutional Convention looking at reviewing the constitution for about the last year?

There's going to be at least 3 referendums and more likely 5 next year - on same-sex marriage, voting age, minimum age of presidential candidates, blasphemy and the role of women in the home.

Why can't they just have all the referendums the same day? 5 slips of paper, 5 choices and thats it FFS

Peregrine

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I know there has to be a referendum in order to change the legislation, but surely there isn't any urgent need for a referendum on it any time soon. There would be an extremely low turnout to vote, who gives a crap about that law

Just because it's not urgent doesn't mean it doesn't have to be done

Put 2 or 3 of three of these minor changes up for vote next year or stick it with one major one. I don't see the problem.

catallus

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

BoJack Horseman

catallus wrote: »

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

True dat....
Big ups!

Knasher

catallus wrote: »

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

Sounds like somebody found a thesaurus...

Donkey Oaty

catallus wrote: »

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

Catchy slogan, but you'll need a big billboard for the campaign.

P_1

catallus wrote: »

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

Try saying that after a few pints...

Zebra3

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

Can't agree with that enough. An absolute embarrassment.

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,

The people of Ireland humbly acknowledge a load of crap that nobody can prove exists.

Change that crap as well about people swearing on bibles too. Has anyone ever read what's in it? :rolleyes:

Draco

CramCycle wrote: »

Why can't they just have all the referendums the same day? 5 slips of paper, 5 choices and thats it FFS

Last I heard there'll be two other referendums on the same day as the same se referendum. Remember that the last referendum in 2013v was on two issues - the Court of Appeal and the abolishment of the Dáil. So it's fairly normal practice to do so.

Knasher

CramCycle wrote: »

Why can't they just have all the referendums the same day? 5 slips of paper, 5 choices and thats it FFS

I think the idea is to have a referendum on the changes that they've agreed to. But just because a change was proposed, doesn't mean that the government have to agree to accept it, so I suspect that we will get to vote on a group of changes all at once, for the ones that are easy to sort out. Then there is at least one that is meant to involve a ton of small changes, so it will take longer to sort that one out. And I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to reject the one for citizen initiative altogether, unfortunately.

ScumLord

Stupid democracy.

Pumpkinseeds

Nimr wrote: »

Just because it's not urgent doesn't mean it doesn't have to be done

Put 2 or 3 of three of these minor changes up for vote next year or stick it with one major one. I don't see the problem.

If it were a referendum on seperating the church from state, i.e, no church involvement in schools I'd say it was a great idea and that the cost of the referendum would be money well spent. The problem is that most people don't know that piece of legislation exists and I very much doubt that many people would bother to go to their local polling station to vote for it. It's a non issue for most people. It's a trivial matter that doesn't seem to merit the costs.

PopePalpatine

catallus wrote: »

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

The hilarity of the "No" side has begun!

wendell borton

I thought FF brought in a blasphemy law or something similar equally ridiculous?

Czarcasm

catallus wrote: »

The craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the benighted theophobes is a worrying manifestation of the shallowness of the minds of the elites.

In fairness catallus it was the mindless craven capitulation to the fickle desires of the elites that allowed this, and many other laws to be bestowed upon a benighted population at the time, and not too many considered that a worrying manifestation.

This is just the reverse of that, to reflect the will of a society that is no longer benighted and forced to capitulate to the fickle desires of the elites.

Well, it's a start anyway, but it'll be a couple of generations yet, and much money pissed away in the meantime on piecemeal referenda, before Ireland will ever have a secular Constitution (if ever).

TheBeardedLady

I have to say, I'm very proud to be from a country where any change to our constitution is voted on by the people. Some people/media scoff at what a backwater Ireland is but this is an incredibly progressive aspect of our country imo. Other countries have no say in this kind of stuff at all, big or small. I can think of more important things that need to be dealt with but as long as we have this system in place, I won't/can't complain.