A GROWING hesitation to refer to issues of faith and belief in public debate "upsets me and irritates me", Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said last night.
"Those of you who know me, know this . . . though I'm not supposed to be irritated by anything."
He was speaking at Government Buildings at a reception for churches and faith communities involved in the Structured Dialogue between them and the State, which he launched at Dublin Castle in February of last year.
In attendance were representatives of churches and faiths in Ireland as well as those of the Humanist Association of Ireland.
"Over the course of my political career I have observed a growing hesitation in public debate to refer to religion, the churches, issues of faith and belief, and sometimes even to acknowledge the very fact of the impact on our culture and institutions of the historical contribution of the church communities," he said.
"Some of that" reflected the increasing percentage of people in Ireland who did not profess a religious faith or were less likely to practise. Some of it reflected "the tragic reality" that sectarian conflict had "scarred the face of this country for too long and at too high a price", he said.
But, he believed, another "far more worrying" factor was involved. It was "the attempt to exclude matters of faith and religious belief from public debate and confine them to the purely personal, with no social or public significance". He recalled that "on a previous occasion [at the launch of the Structured Dialogue in February 2007] I referred to this as 'aggressive secularism'."
He continued: "It is, I believe, fundamentally illiberal and anti-democratic to silence opinions and views, and marginalise institutions and communities which draw their identity and ethical positions from a background of religious belief." This was his "deepest held conviction in many of the things I said while in this office and before I held this office".
Saying so, he was "acutely conscious of the large and growing number of our citizens who do not subscribe to any religious belief . . . We must be acutely aware of how our democracy provides an inclusive and respectful approach to all our citizens, from whatever religious of philosophical perspective they come."
But, he continued, "from the perspective of Irish republicanism, I believe that the political challenge is to build a society which has the allegiance of 'Catholic, Protestant and dissenter', and free-thinkers as well".
This was "equally central to the tradition of Irish parliamentary politics as set out by Daniel O'Connell who said that in a self-governing Ireland, there would be a 'perfect religious freedom, perfect freedom of conscience for all and for everyone'."
He was pleased with progress made in the Structured Dialogue, which was also part of the Lisbon Treaty and was "yet another reason why a positive vote in the referendum on June 12th is the right approach", and "I urge you to draw this important aspect of the treaty to the attention of your colleagues and communities", he said.
In a brief address the Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady thanked the Taoiseach for acknowledging "in word and deed" the "cherished and important place" religion held "in the hearts and minds of many people in this country".
It was announced yesterday that President Mary McAleese will address the Church of Ireland General Synod when it convenes in Galway next month.
She will be the first president of Ireland to do so.
