Irish Government Formally Responds to Open Letter to Eliminate Blasphemy Law

For years now, atheists in Ireland have led the charge to repeal the nation’s outdated and unnecessary blasphemy law. As it stands, Article 40.6.1 of the Irish Constitution includes this passage:

The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.

It’s obvious why this law — especially the “blasphemous” mention — has no basis in a free society. It threatens freedom of speech and puts religious sentiments on a...