Madam, – Brian Whiteside (Opinion, March 31st) announces a campaign by the Humanist Association of Ireland on the Dart against “the requirement for a religious oath for high office”. He would do well to look again at the Constitution which imposes no such requirement. In every case, the Constitution specifies a “declaration”. People who adhere to a religion will appreciate the difference.
Non-believers presumably consider phrases like “In the presence of Almighty God” and “May God direct and sustain me” to be meaningless. Why object to saying a few meaningless words before and after a declaration promising to carry out an office to the best of one’s ability? - Yours, etc.