Human Rights Standards Archives

May 6, 2020 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Homework Pass ruling has lessons for the state, school boards, principals, and teachers

A recent case at the Workplace Relations Commission has found that Yellow Furze National School in Meath discriminated on religious grounds against a family that had no religious belief. The school claimed at the WRC that the case was unfounded. Most schools are unable to recognise religious discrimination when it ...

February 27, 2020 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

The gift of the Holy Spirit in the NCCA draft primary curriculum framework

The NCCA has published a draft Primary Curriculum Framework for consultation. Atheist Ireland will soon be publishing our response to this document. But first, we want to highlight an example of how the Catholic Church infiltrates its theological language into secular documents like this. What the NCCA document says The ...

January 30, 2020 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Schools admission policies must respect the right to opt out of religion classes

Atheist Ireland has sent the letter below to the Department of Education. It is about how recently revised Guidelines, issued by the Catholic Church, are undermining the right to not attend religious teaching in Irish schools. Please read the letter below, then ask your General Election candidates the following question, ...

December 11, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Catholic school guidelines on inclusion deny the rights of secularists

The Joint Managerial Body (JMB) for second level Religious schools has issued revised Guidelines for the ‘Inclusion of Other Beliefs in Catholic Secondary Schools’. These revised Guidelines undermine the rights of minorities. They are based on fear and control dressed up in the language of inclusion. The Catholic Church is ...

December 2, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Time to rebalance Constitutional rights to protect religious minorities in Irish schools

In Ireland children have a Constitutional Right to not attend any religious teaching or activities. The Constitution obliges the State to respect the inalienable right of parents to ensure that the teaching of their children is in conformity with their convictions. The Constitution also guarantees that all citizens are equal ...

November 7, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

The right of the child to freedom of conscience, religion and belief

In a speech called “The future of Ireland Human rights and children’s rights”, the former President Mary McAleese said that she wanted to come to the debate over education in a different way from the usual arguments about integrated education, reduction of Catholic school patronage, or how to provide opt-outs ...

September 18, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Catholic school backs homework pass for attending a religious event

A recent Article in the Irish Times “Catholic school backs homework pass for attending a religious event” highlights the discrimination that minorities face in the vast majority of schools in Ireland. Children that go to mass or choir practice outside school hours are given a reward for attending. The reward ...

August 20, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Why is the State teaching moral education for all students through religion?

The NCCA Religious Education course (an exam subject) contributes to the moral education of ALL students through religion. Students are not offered another subject if opted out. Some schools make the course compulsory. This is religious discrimination. Why does the state even want to contribute to the moral education of ...

July 11, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Please ask your TDs to ensure that all abuse victims in Louise O’Keeffe case get compensation

Please contact your local TDs and ask them to ensure that all the victims of abuse in Irish schools, similar to that in the Louise O'Keeffe case, get justice and compensation. The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has apologised to victims of abuse in day schools. But the State has for the ...

June 9, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

How the Irish education system indoctrinates atheists and religious minorities

The Irish Constitution obliges the State to respect the inalienable right of parents to ensure the education of their children is in conformity with their convictions. The European Court of Human Rights has defined indoctrination in the education system as not ‘respecting’ parents’ convictions. Despite this, Church and State in ...