- Irish blasphemy law being used as a lever by Islamic countries
(news item in CathNews Asia, 13 Jan) - Irlanda, rappresentante Osce contro la legge sulla blasfemia
(news item in Il Velino, 13 Jan) - Blasphemy, an unjustified privilege
(opinion piece by Ophelia Benson in the Guardian, 11 Jan) - Let the Blaspheming Begin!
(opinion piece by Tommi Avicolli-Mecca in Beyond Chron, San Francisco, 11 Jan) - Thank God for giving the rest of the world something to laugh at
(radio review by Eithne Tynan in the Sunday Tribune, 10 Jan) - Gott hat immer recht
(news item in Sued Deutsche, 10 Jan) - In God We Don’t Trust, the Irish atheists say
(opinion piece by Andy Dabilis in New Europe, 10 Jan) - ‘Aye, those be slighting words against the Lord:’ Ireland’s blasphemy law
(opinion piece by Stephen Marche in National Post Canada, 9 Jan) - Views on Ireland’s controversial new blasphemy law (highlights)
(series of opinion pieces in Washington Post, 8 Jan) - Views on Ireland’s controversial new blasphemy law (full version)
(series of opinion pieces in Washington Post, 4-11 Jan)
January 12, 2010
In the News – Jan 8 to Jan 14
January 1, 2010
In the News – Jan 1 to Jan 7
- This blasphemy law would have Father Ted spinning in his grave
(opinion piece by Sharon Owens in the Belfast Telegraph, 6 Jan) - Atheists rally over blasphemy law
(news item by Elaine Edwards in Irish Times, 4 Jan) - Blasphemy laws will set a dangerous global precedent
(opinion piece by Philip Hensher in Evening Herald, 4 Jan) - Challenge to new blasphemy law
(radio interview with Michael Nugent on RTE’s Morning Ireland, 4 Jan) - Challenge to ‘backward’ blasphemy law
(news item by Jim Cusack in Sunday Independent, 3 Jan) - Atheists challenge blasphemy law
(news item by Sarah McInerney in Sunday Times, 3 Jan) - Atheist group lobbies against blasphemy law
(news item by Ali Bracken in Sunday Tribune, 3 Jan) - Atheists condemn blasphemy law
(news item by Elaine Edwards in Irish Times, 2 Jan) - Irish atheists challenge new blasphemy laws
(news item on BBC, 2 Jan) - Irish atheists challenge new blasphemy laws
(news item by Henry McDonald in The Guardian, 1 Jan)
International
- Get an ‘outrage-o-meter’ to measure blasphemy
(opinion piece by Rory Fitzgerald in San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Jan) - New Irish Blasphemy Law Threatens Religious Freedom and Democracy
(opinion piece by Rabbi Brad Hirschfield in BeliefNet, 7 Jan) - Ireland’s new blasphemy law is a disgraceful inhibition of free speech
(opinion piece by Roy Greenslade in Guardian Blog, 6 Jan) - Ireland: The island of saints and blasphemers?
(opinion piece by Michael McGough in LA Times, 6 Jan) - Blasphemy in the British Isles
(Religion Today column in University of Wyoming News, 6 Jan) - Irland: Gesetz gegen Gotteslästerung
(news item in Nurnberger Zeitung, 5 Jan) - 10 More Blasphemous Quotations the Irish Might Ban
(article by Scott Thill in Wired, 5 Jan) - Irlandia zakazała bluźnierstw
(news item in Gazeta Wiadomosci, 5 Jan) - Irish Befuddled By New Blasphemy Law
(news item by Rob Gifford on NPR, 4 Jan) - Irští ateisté vzdorují novému zákonu
(news item in Ceske Nonine, 4 Jan) - Making blasphemy an offence takes Europe back several centuries
(news item in Reporters Sans Frontieres, 4 Jan) - Irlanda: multa per i blasfemi
(news item in L’Essenziale, 4 Jan) - Atheists challenge Ireland’s new blasphemy law with online postings
(news item by Karla Adams in Washington Post, 3 Jan) - Irish Atheists Challenge Nation’s New Blasphemy Law
(news item on Pakistan Christian TV, 3 Jan) - Irish atheists use quotes by Christ to rebel against new blasphemy law
(news item by Frieda Klotz on Irish Central news, 3 Jan) - Multe fino a 25mila euro per i blasfemi
(news item in La Stampa, 3 Jan) - Irish atheists challenge ‘dangerous’ blasphemy law
(news item in Australian Herald Sun, 3 Jan) - Des athées irlandais s’insurgent contre une loi anti-blasphème
(news item in Nouvel Obs, 3 Jan) - Irish atheists defy new blasphemy law
(news item in Sydney Morning Herald, 3 Jan) - Irish atheists challenge new blasphemy law
(news item on Radio Netherlands, 3 Jan) - Atheist Ireland protests blasphemy law by publishing religious quotes by famous people
(news item by Soraya Roberts in New York Daily News, 2 Jan) - Hasta 25.000 euros de multa en Irlanda por blasfemar
(news item in El pais, 2 Jan) - Atheist group breaks blasphemy law
(news item on ABC News, 2 Jan) - Ierse atheïsten tegen nieuwe blasfemie-wet
(news item in De Morgen Buitenland, 2 Jan) - Irish atheists use Bjork, Mark Twain to challenge blasphemy law
(news item on CNN, 2 Jan) - Des athées irlandais défient une loi anti-blasphème
(news item in La Croix, 2 Jan) - Irish atheists defy new blasphemy law
(news item on Canada.com, 2 Jan) - Атеисты Ирландии – против закона о богохульстве
(news item on BBC Russia, 2 Jan) - Atheist Ireland fights blasphemy law with blasphemous quotes
(news item from Associated Content, 2 Jan) - Des auteurs aident à blasphémer férocement en Irlande
(news item on Actualitte.com, 2 Jan) - Irish atheists use Carlin to flout law on blasphemy
(news item on Newser.com, 2 Jan) - L’Irlanda punisce ogni tipo di blasfemia con 25 mila euro di multa
(news item on Blitz Quotidiano, 1 Jan)
July 29, 2009
In the News – July 27 to Aug 2
- Irish blasphemers, beware! New law befuddles nation, but fulfills Constitution
(news item by Michael Seaver in the Christian Science Monitor, July 28)
July 22, 2009
In the News – July 20 to July 26
- Atheist Ireland calls on Minister to delay blasphemy order
(second half of this news item in the Irish Times, July 24) - Opponents to continue fight after blasphemy made illegal
(news item in the Irish Independent, July 24) - I have the right not merely to offend people, but to intend to
(opinion piece by Kevin Myers in The Irish Independent, July 24) - President McAleese signs controversial bills into law
(news item in the Irish Times, July 23) - Stephen Fry slams blasphemy law
(report in the Evening Herald, July 22) - President to meet Council of State tonight
(news item in the Irish Times, July 22) - Blasphemy provisions clash with Constitution
(opinion piece by Eoin O’Dell in the Irish Times, July 22) - Irish law makes it illegal to speak blasphemy
(news item on CBC News Canada, July 22) - Irish blasphemy? Dawkins’ view and a local one
(opinion piece in Times Online Faith Central, July 21) - Ireland’s bizarre war on blasphemy
(opinion piece by Jason Walsh in Spiked, July 20)
July 17, 2009
In the News – July 6 to July 19
- President calls Council of State meeting
(news item in the Irish Times, July 17) - Blasphemy law is an anachronism
(opinion piece in the Offaly Express, July 15) - Blasphemy law a return to middle ages – Dawkins
(news item by Alison Healy in the Irish Times, July 13) - Blasphemy law is silly, dangerous and unjust
(opinion piece by Michael Nugent in the Irish Times, July 10) - Defamation bill stumbles through Seanad after lost vote
(news item by Stephen Collins in the Irish Times, July 10) - Ireland: blasphemy law a backward step
(opinion piece by Michael Nugent, Index on Censorship, July 7)
July 5, 2009
In the News – June 29 to July 5
- Father Ted creators back challenge to the blasphemy bill
(news item by Henry McDonald in The Observer, July 5) - Wording of law to criminalise blasphemy a farce, says Norris
(news item by Jimmy Walsh in The Irish Times, July 3) - Minister to cut proposed fines for blasphemy to €25,000
(news item by Mark Hennessy in The Irish Times, July 2) - Higgins lashes plan to ban blasphemy
(news item in The Kerryman, July 1)
June 28, 2009
In the News – Sunday June 28
- Rip it up and start again?
(report by Sarah McInerney in the Sunday Times: groups representing gay rights, children’s rights, civil rights, women’s rights, one-parent families, humanists and atheists are all demanding that referenda be held to amend the 72-year-old constitution, the better to reflect the needs of modern Irish society.)
May 20, 2009
In the News – May 16 to May 22
- Warning of blasphemy law’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech
(news item in The Irish Times, May 19) - Ireland’s religion law flouts freedom of speech – watchdog
(news item in The National Post, May 19) - OSCE argues against blasphemy law
(news item on RTE, May 20) - Ahern ‘bemused’ by criticism
(news item in The Irish Times, May 19) - Ahern dismisses blasphemy ‘hysteria’
(news item in The Irish Times, May 21) - Changes to defamation Bill made by Minister
(news item in The Irish Times, May 22)
May 15, 2009
In the News – May 9 to May 15
- Blasphemous law is another impediment to our freedom
(opinion piece by TP O’Mahony in Laois Nationalist, May 15) - Green Party Senator challenges blasphemy change
(news item by Mary Regan in The Irish Examiner, May 13) - Harney defends introduction of blasphemy law
(news item in the Irish Times, May 12) - Blasphemy law debated on RTE’s Questions and Answers
( 17-min TV clip, panelists include Humanist Dick Spicer, May 11) - Blasphemy law debated on RTE’s Spirit Moves
(hour-long radio show, broadcast May 10)
May 8, 2009
In the News – Friday May 8
- If you’re truly liberal even hate-speech must be free
(opinion piece by David Quinn in the Irish Independent) - Ireland bucks trend with anti-blasphemy law
(news item by John Ozimek in The Register)
May 7, 2009
In the News – Thursday May 7
- Blasphemy law only panders to the deranged instincts of an intolerant immigrant minority
(opinion piece by Kevin Myers in the Irish Independent)
May 6, 2009
In the News – Wed May 6
- Sinister blasphemy law would play into the hands of religious nut cases
(opinion piece by Stephen King in the Irish Examiner) - A blasphemy clause that does not fit the Bill
(opinion piece by Newton Emerson in the Irish Times) - Pakistan lawyer threatens to kill Christian charged with blasphemy
(news item in Compass Direct news) - Turkey puts novelist on trial for blasphemy
(news item in Press TV)
May 5, 2009
In the News – Tuesday May 5
- Absurdity of blasphemy law revived by Ahern
(opinion piece by Fintan O’Toole in the Irish Times)
May 4, 2009
May 3, 2009
In the News – Sunday May 3
- Atheist Ireland fights to keep God out of Irish law
(news item by Henry McDonald in the Observer) - Dermot Ahern is a Catholic fundamentalist
(opinion piece by Diarmuid Doyle in the Sunday Tribune) - New libel law is a threat to free speech
(opinion piece in the Sunday Times)
May 2, 2009
In the News – Saturday May 2
- Green TD in blasphemy challenge
(news item in The Times) - Pakistan – Christian families accused of blasphemy
(news item in the Daily Times)
May 1, 2009
In the News – Friday May 1
- Position of blasphemy in our Constitution cannot be ignored
(opinion piece by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern in the Irish Times) - Churches not consulted about blasphemy law proposal
(news item by Carol Coulter in the Irish Times) - Crime of blasphemy dangerous and silly
(opinion piece by John Waters in the Irish Times) - Mystery surrounds reform of our laws on blasphemy
(opinion piece by David Quinn in the Irish Independent)
April 30, 2009
In the News – Thursday April 30
- For God’s sake, why have blasphemous libel?
(analysis by Carol Coulter in the Irish Times) - Ahern denies ‘criminalising blasphemy’
(news item in the Irish Examiner) - A blasphemy law for Ireland?
(news item in New Humanist)
April 29, 2009
In the News – Wed April 29
- Crime of blasphemous libel proposed for Defamation Bill
(news item by Carol Coulter in the Irish Times) - Atheist Ireland responds to proposed law on RTE radio
(recording of Liveline, with Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland) - Ahern defends blasphemy changes
(news item on Irish Times website) - Religion doesn’t need protection
(opinion piece by Padraig Reidy in Index on Censorship)