Sir, Paul O'Shea OP, writes (June 6th) that "there has been a lot of discussion recently regarding the relationship between church and State especially with regard to education", and goes on to espouse a greater degree of separation between them.
Sadly, there has not been a lot of discussion recently where it matters in the media or in parliament. Occasionally there are one sided pronouncements, but, no debate. The continuing subversion of personal rights relating toe the religious autonomy of the individual by church interests, in connivance with several arms of the State and the continuing endowment of religion by the State are issues which are so serious that the United Nations has called Ireland to book over them and led to the small, impecunious, Campaign to Separate Church and State (CSCS) to embark on perilous and costly court actions as a last ditch means of redressing injustice.
Yet most of the serious national media have failed to provide a platform to create public awareness of these developments. Why, for example, has the educational supplement to The Irish Times not taken courage in hand and given space to these issues?
In contrast to the amount of free time given by the State broadcasting service, RTE, to religious matters of a promotional kind, not one current affairs programme on RTE radio or television provided a discussion on any of the following topics (1) the report of the UN investigation into breaches by Ireland of the UN Convention on Human Rights relating to educational/religious matters (2) the CSCS High Court action seeking to put an end to State payment of the salaries of bishop appointed, priest chaplains in the Stale's community schools now on appeal to the Supreme Court and (3) attempts evidently being made by the Minister for Education, Ms Bhreathnach, and the Government, to subordinate the human rights of teachers, parents, and pupils so that the church(es) missionary "ethos" prevails in national schools.
To date, there has been no Dail debate on the White Paper on Education and no legislation, just, more of the same secrecy and behind the scenes scheming one expects of education.
It is particularly depressing that the Irish TV viewer with an interest in serious church/State corruption must turn, not to RTEs Questions & Answers (which in eight years has never had a CSCS panelist), but to Channel 4, UTV and the BBC, for enlightenment. Yours, etc., (Joint founder, CSCS) The Toll House, Leixlip, Co Kildare.