Statement: Bacik to Speak at World Atheist Conference
03 June 2011
BACIK TO SPEAK AT WORLD ATHEIST CONVENTION IN DUBLIN
Labour Party Seanad Leader
Friday, 3rd June 2011
Speaking at the World Atheist Convention to be held in Dublin today, Senator Ivana Bacik will congratulate the Atheist Ireland organisation for their work in organising the conference, which will be attended by around 350 international delegates.
Senator Bacik will speak about the ongoing influence of organised religion in public policy in Ireland; and will criticise the ongoing dominance of the Catholic church in the control of national schools across Ireland, and will call for a change in the patronage system to ensure more schools will offer multi-denominational education in accordance with the clearly expressed wishes of many parents.
In calling for the establishment of a more secular society, Senator Bacik will say:
“What we seek as atheists in Ireland is a secular society; not a society that is anti-religion; but a society which is actually full of people practicing different religions or different belief systems, yet in which the state does not support or favour any one religion.”
“The simple Swedish phrase sums it up: ‘In school, you teach; in church, you preach.' You shouldn't mix the two. In Ireland and in other countries, there has been too much preaching in schools for far too long. This and other issues will be discussed during this conference – and I know that Atheist Ireland will continue to work to ensure less preaching and greater choice in the Irish education system.”
ENDS