Free practice of religion is every citizen’s right

THE well-intentioned letter by Brian P O’Cinnedie (Letters, August 23) condemning the wearing of the burka contradicts itself when he calls Ireland ‘a Christian country’ yet tells us that “those who wish to impose their religion must be made to understand that the only law in Ireland is the law of the State”.

Furthermore the law on this matter is quite clear. Article 44/2 paragraph 1 of the Irish Constitution states “...the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen” while paragraph 2 guarantees the State will not endow any particular religion. It is our free practice, and not the law of the State, which makes this “a Christian country”, or even a particularly religious one, and so it is useless to appeal to the law in order to ban the burka.

Even if the burka represents a garment of religious attire for Mr O’Cinneide, he should consider carefully before calling for a ban. The same arguments he employs might easily be used to ban the crucifix in public places or even nun’s habits and veils, a result I’m sure Mr O’Cinneide would not be eager to see.

Adherents of the three main monotheisms might more usefully direct their energies in defending their collective religious freedoms from attack by aggressive atheistic secularism instead of squabbling among themselves over the finer details of how they express their beliefs (not intending to diminish doctrinal differences either).

Nick Folley

Carrigaline

Co Cork