Fight over blasphemy law is really a phoney battle

In just over three weeks’ time voters will be asked whether or not to delete the reference to blasphemy from the Constitution. It will pass by an overwhelming majority. Only the Islamic community are likely to oppose the move. Catholic bishops have already expressed the view that God can look after himself. In reality, the provision is meaningless from a legal point of view.

What is amusing about the referendum is the juvenile way in which some commentators and politicians who really ought to know better are determined to see the move as part of some sort of protracted battle between Church and State.

When the referendum inevitably passes, it will be hailed as another milestone on the road to the much-vaulted ‘modern Ireland’. It is nothing of the sort. Rather it is a pointless exercise aimed at deleting something from the Constitution that has absolutely no meaning.

Turnout is likely to be very low, even the Government’s move to have it on the same day as the presidential election in a bid to boost interest is unlikely to push voters to take an interest.

It’s a phoney war and no-one should be fooled into thinking it’s anything more than virtue signalling from a political class obsessed with easy wins on what they perceive to be popular things with some voters. People of faith should hardly dignify the process with anything more than a passing reference.