The leader of the Labour Party has called for a radical rewrite of the Irish Constitution [1] to strip it of its remaining religious language and the Catholic social teaching that she says underpins its mains provisions.
In a major speech last year, Supreme Court Justice, Gerard Hogan, defended the Constitution [2] from this sort of attack and said some of its religious provisions are not unusual in a European context.
Speaking at the MacGill Summer School last week, Ivana Bacik TD, said that while some religious references were removed, “we still see doctrinal teaching so influential in the text”.
“We see religion denominating throughout and that is a key reason why we need the radical rewrite and a key reason to say yes, the text is atrophied, and it is no longer fit for purpose in a 21st century secular, polarised republic”.
“A theocratic ethos is evident in the text [3], particularly in the Preamble and in provisions requiring that a religious Oath be taken by a newly-elected President, and by newly appointed members of the judiciary and of the Council of State.
“The same ethos is also evident in the Fundamental Rights Articles 40-44, which reflect religious doctrinal teaching, and recognise only a selective set of liberal rights”.
As the present text will turn 90 in 2027, she called for a new text to reflect 21st Century Ireland “framed in secularised language that is appropriate for our Republic”.