From Ireland, by way of Pharyngula:
JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern has defended the introduction of a new crime of blasphemous libel, stating that a new definition was required by the Constitution.
Speaking after an Oireachtas committee meeting, Mr Ahern yesterday defended a fine of up to €100,000 that will be imposed on blasphemers.
The Government moved to revive the crime by placing it onto a fresh statutory footing following advice from the office of the Attorney General.
Gardai will now have the power to seize blasphemous material from the home or any other premises used by a person convicted of blasphemy.
Just out of curiosity, are there any tenets of faith of one religion that are not blasphemous to others? In fact, many tenets of faith held by various Christians sects are blasphemous to other Christian sects.
This is so ridiculous, I'd ignore it, but Ahern and others are serious about this. I suppose it might be amusing if anyone actually tried to enforce the law, as everyone, including the enforcers, would end up in jail.
Ireland: we're all criminals now!
Just don't say that in Ireland, or you'll be jailed, filthy heretic!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, has religion not caused enough trouble in Ireland?
I have seen the Irish justice system in action. I wasn't impressed. A friend of mine missed his court hearing for drunk driving, so he had warrant for his arrest. The next day he left the country on his own passport. He just went to London but still.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't notice?
ReplyDeleteNope, when he got back to Dublin he had to pay a fine.
ReplyDeletea new crime of blasphemous libel,
ReplyDeleteWhy do I have a sneaking suspicion that the point of this is to make everyone shut up about all those child-molesting priest scandals?
Gardai will now have the power to seize blasphemous material from the home
They're going to try to seize your blog right off of the computer screens of people who are reading it.
wow...
ReplyDeletei thought that Ireland actually had something similiar to the First Amendment, in an attempt to further themselves further from Britian with its theocratic monarchy
"further themselves further"?
ReplyDeletewhat did i mean there? move themselves further? further remove themseves? further themselves farther?
wow... sorry PF...
Hey, PF, I would love to read what you have to say to this Postcard from Gawd on Vacation about Ireland that his Postie just unveiled.
ReplyDeletehttp://deusexeverriculum.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/dear-ireland/