The new blasphemy law in Ireland
I posted a link at Facebook to the ABC story about the new blasphemy law in Ireland, and I have found some more links about it, so I'm putting them here instead of filling up my Facebook page with these.
I half-expected to find this story debunked, and that it would not be possible for a "civilized Western nation" to pass such a law in this day and age, but apparently it is quite true:
From the Irish Independent:
July 9, 2009: Libel and blasphemy bill passed by the Dáil
July 24, 2009: Opponents to continue fight after blasphemy made illegal
An organization called Atheist Ireland was planning to publish a blasphemous statement as a test of the new law.
So much for the idea of retiring to Ireland to write ....
(*still shaking head in disbelief*)
I half-expected to find this story debunked, and that it would not be possible for a "civilized Western nation" to pass such a law in this day and age, but apparently it is quite true:
From the Irish Independent:
July 9, 2009: Libel and blasphemy bill passed by the Dáil
July 24, 2009: Opponents to continue fight after blasphemy made illegal
An organization called Atheist Ireland was planning to publish a blasphemous statement as a test of the new law.
So much for the idea of retiring to Ireland to write ....
(*still shaking head in disbelief*)