Madam, - I am employed full time in leadership of a Presbyterian church in Maynooth but I write this letter as a private citizen and a "mere Christian". I would much prefer to live in a society where people were able to speak freely, even if sometimes they end up being rude about my faith, my denomination or my God.
The reaction of secular humanists to the proposed blasphemy laws is to be expected. But I have yet to meet a Christian in any tradition in Ireland who would support this legislation. Instead of slapping massive fines on people who defame Christianity, Irish believers will aspire to follow the advice of St Paul who wrote that love "is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs".
Our God doesn't need Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to protect His dignity. And it would be my hope that the Irish churches of the 21st century have learned their lessons well and do not need the support of the State either. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Does anyone else see the similarity between the current blasphemous libel Bill and the immigration-reform amendment we were faced with just before the last bout of local and European elections?
There is a very common trick in the United States of bringing issues like this to the fore just before elections, usually in the form of a referendum, in order to change the focus of the discourse going into the election from the incumbent's record to the "values" of the electorate.
Does Fianna Fáil fear seepage from its rural and elderly voting block towards the Labour Party, perhaps as the party of the protest vote this time around? Significantly, this would be the same constituency one would think likely to side with Fianna Fáil over immigration issues as well.
By forcing Labour to side against them on this issue going into the election, does Fianna Fáil hope to persuade people against voting for those who do not represent their "values"? This would at least explain the bewildering timing of the Bill. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Tolerance is a virtue to be celebrated. It gives us liberty to enjoy life, love and laughter, not least in the sphere of religion. We are in danger of being stifled in the vice of any new blasphemy law, whilst compromising ourselves as a liberal democracy. - Yours, etc,