The following is Marie Fleming’s full witness statement to the Irish High Court, seeking to establish her right to die with peace and dignity. I have deleted details of Marie’s personal background and family that are unrelated to her illness and her legal argument, and I have deleted names of doctors and solicitors where they […]
‘That is not acceptable to me’ – Marie Fleming asks High Court for help to die
Yesterday three Irish High Court Judges came down from their benches to sit in the press box near the back of the court, where they could sit beside and listen to Marie Fleming, who could not reach the witness box because the courtroom could not accommodate her wheelchair. Marie is a 58 year old mother […]
My recent contributions to Al Jazeera, Ask an Atheist and Trolling with Logic
In recent weeks, I have discussed atheism, secularism, abortion and blasphemy in Ireland on Al Jazeera’s The Stream, the Washington radio show Ask an Atheist, and the podcast Trolling with Logic. Here are the recordings: Trolling with Logic, 1 December Al Jazeera’s The Stream, 20 November Ask an Atheist Radio Show, Washington, 25 November Listen […]
Why we need a secular Irish Constitution, laws and government
Last week in Cork, Atheist Ireland hosted a public meeting on separation of church and state in Ireland. Here are videos from that meeting of me and Jane Donnelly outlining why we need a secular Irish Constitution, parliament, government, education system and health care system.
Atheist Ireland and Sanal Edamaruku debunk moving statue of Ballinspittle
Atheist Ireland hosted four public meetings in the last week to highlight the blasphemy charge against Sanal Edamaruku in India for explaining a supposed miracle. We also brought Sanal to see one of our home-grown miracles, the moving statue of the virgin Mary at Ballinspittle in County Cork.
Law lecturer Mirza Alfath arrested in Indonesia for criticizing Sharia Law
Law lecturer Mirza Alfath has joined civil servant Alexander Aan as the latest Indonesian Facebook user to become a victim of mob rule and blasphemy laws. Alexander Aan has already been jailed, after being assaulted in his office, because he wrote on Facebook that God does not exist and published material about the life of […]
Legislating for X is not enough – we must repeal the 1983 amendment
Legislating for the X case is needed. It is more than twenty years overdue. But there is a danger that it will be portrayed as having resolved what the Government may be tempted to see as a short-term crisis. Let’s focus on what we are actually talking about here. Legislating to allow a doctor in […]
Separate Church and State Now! Public Meetings with Sanal Edamaruku
Why should a respected Indian author be facing jail for exposing a crying Catholic statue as being caused by faulty plumbing? This week you can hear from the victim of this unjust law, as Sanal Edamaruku visits Ireland for a speaking tour. Atheist Ireland is hosting four public meetings, in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, […]
Myths about atheism obscure its secular values: my article in Irish Times
The Irish Times report on the recent Atheist Ireland AGM led to two weeks of letters to the editor about atheism and Atheist Ireland. I wrote this article in response, which the Irish Times published yesterday. Recent letters in The Irish Times promoted six common myths about atheism, including that it is a religion or […]
Tragedy, shame and outrage as pregnant Savita dies in Irish hospital because of Catholic dogma and political cowardice
Shame on Ireland’s Catholic Bishops and our cowardly politicians. They could have protected the life of 31-year-old Savita Praveen Halappanavar, who tragically died last month in Galway after doctors denied her the right to abort an unviable foetus during a miscarriage. Instead, while Savita was dying, the Catholic church was running an immoral propaganda campaign […]