Why Do States Like Ireland Keep Catholicism As An Official Religion.......

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55646902
.. when they are often having to apologise for its atrocities? Surely it's time to disenfranchise the state from religion?

[ummmm]

My OH has a t-shirt saying 'Guinness is my religion, I'll say a prayer for you'

[Jackdaw33]

I have only been to Ireland once; 64 years ago when I was 8. My mother was half-Irish and she took me to visit her late father's sister, my great aunt. She lived alone in a huge detached bungalow in a town called Castlebar in Co. Mayo. As young as I was I remember feeling that the place was rather primitive. I was bemused by all the rosaries coming out at odd times and I was forced to learn it because my mother didn't want the neighbours to know that we weren't catholic. One thing that sticks in my mind is that there was a little café on the High Street where we used to go most days. It was the first time I'd seen a juke box and I used to beg 3d to play a record every time we went. The funny thing was it would not accept Irish coins, only English ones.

[ummmm]

I know Caslebar. My daughter is from Belmullet, a one street town.

[brainiac]

When I lived in Dublin the late 70s I was amazed at just how in thrall the country was to the Catholic church. Priests were treated like demigods, and I seem to remember that TV shut down around 6pm or thereabouts for The Angelus - and of course there were no legal abortions till 2018. I'm sure there are a lot more terrible stories to come.

[andy-hughes]

Royfromaus - reported, you know why

[royfromaus]

No I don't but don't let that stop you... it never has in the past.

[MynameisLuca]

The church was the reason why the families and communities shunned these women, they set the standard they ruled the population with an iron fist and they were allowed and supported by succession governments.
Thank God they've been outed.

[gness]

MynameisLuca.....in a nutshell....but no more...and that's so good.

[tomus42]

I put this on the wrong thread earlier, so reposting here...

// I don't think religion should play a part in the running of any country. It's an anachronistic concept. I'm not saying it should be banned or anything, just that it should be separate from the workings of the state.

Easier said than done though when they've both been enmeshed together for millenia. //

[ummmm]

Andy - seriously? Because he called you 'Hughes'?

[andy-hughes]

Roy, my name is Andy-Hughes, or andy, and you know that, and you know my objection to being called 'Hughes' because you've done it before.

Playing that 'What me ref?' Is pointless.

[royfromaus]

I didn't call him hughes my C&P called him hughes and I couldn't be bothered to correct it. It happens often.

[tomus42]

Fake news

[royfromaus]

Maybe I should call everyone 'idiot' because calling someone idiot is apparently ok.

?

[ummmm]

Andy - don't be so precious.

[gness]

You're right, Tomus. It saddens me too that 90% of primary schools and 50% of secondary schools are still under Catholic patronage here in Ireland.
Even worse is the involvement of the Catholic Church in our health care. That is so damaging, especially for women.
The sooner the Catholic church is a distant memory the better for women and for our children....well for everyone really.

[gness]

Oh for goodness sake!

[tomus42]

Thank you Gness. I'm not even talking about Ireland specifically. I'm English and I think the whole religious paraphenalia around the English monarchy and state is just embarrassingly out of date. Time to move on.

[Mozz71]

I thought he preferred "Andie" ;-)

[gness]

It is so out of date and damaging, Tomus. Yes, the sooner we all move on the better and thankfully Ireland is moving on at quite a rate!
I sometimes can't believe what I'm witnessing here but it makes me so happy.