Vatican’s politicking here is intrusive and hypocritical

For weeks, the Vatican’s men in Ireland, its bishops and nuncio, have been politicking in respect of the Government’s Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.

Foreign states that seek to intervene in the internal government and politics of Ireland are castigated. Here, in contrast to conventional political parties, the institutional Churches are classified as ‘charities’ for tax purposes.

They can propagate what politics they will, while feeding their activities off taxes foregone by the Exchequer, taxes that would be paid by organisations not charged with ‘the advancement of religion’.