Sir, – Further to William Reville's letter on Prayer in the Dail and Seanad(April 15th), it is not so much that these prayers in the Dáil and Seanad are so grossly offensive to some citizens, the point is that they are symptomatic of a State that engages in discrimination against its own citizens on religious grounds. For example, there are constitutional requirements for presidential, Council of State and judicial candidates to swear oaths "in the presence of Almighty God" in the Constitution. Until these are removed, non-religious candidates for the presidency, Council of State and the judiciary will be minded to employ the doctrine of mental reservation. A Catholic solution to an Irish problem? And let's not forget that State-funded schools monopolised by religious institutions are allowed to discriminate against children in their admissions policies on the grounds of religion and then expose them to indoctrination, against their parents' wishes.
In the debate on the issue of separation of church and state, it never ceases to amaze me how those against political secularism (ie separation of church and state) in Ireland tend to be adherents of the religion which this State discriminates in favour of. What a coincidence. They also tend to use arguments based on a form of contrived majoritarianism to justify their position (the rationale being that because the majority of the citizens are of a given religion, the State should reflect the beliefs of, and discriminate in favour of, the majority). I can only presume, therefore, that these people are against separation of religion and state in all countries, including, for example certain countries in the Middle East, where Christians suffer prejudice and discrimination? A state should protect its minorities and their individual freedoms, irrespective of creed, or lack thereof, and irrespective of geography. These ideals are inhibited where separation between religion and state does not exist. Evidence of this can be seen across the world, including in this country.
The clue lies in Prof Reville’s admission that “If I were designing Oireachtas procedures from scratch I would probably not include a preliminary prayer”. – Yours, etc,
ROB SADLIER,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Sir,– John A Murphy's view (April 14th) that "public prayer has no place in institutions of a secular state" may have some merit. That said, we are not unique in this respect. A chaplain recites a prayer before each session of the United States senate. Indeed I can recall one such chaplain being asked if that was appropriate in this day and age, to which he replied, "Oh yes, definitely yes. Sometimes I look across at those whom we have elected to represent us, throw my eyes up to heaven and fervently pray 'God help us!'"
Was there ever a time when a similar approach in Leinster House would be more appropriate? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN CASSERLY,
Bishopstown, Cork.