Chai Brady
David Quinn The Iona Institute has dubbed challenges by Atheist Ireland to its status as both a private company and a registered charity “ridiculous”.
In a letter to the Charities Regulator, seen by the Irish Times, Atheist Ireland points out that Iona is actively campaigning for the retention of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
They asked the regulator if “all of Iona’s political activity directly related only to advancing religion, as required by the charity category under which it is registered”.
They also say Iona “enjoys these financial benefits of having charitable status under the religion category, while enjoying the political benefits of making mostly secular arguments in this and other political campaigns, and indeed explicitly denying that it is advancing religion”.
Atheist Ireland says in its letter that Iona doesn’t “meet the criteria of a religion” and claims it positions itself as a “secular thinktank” adding that “at times it explicitly denies that it is advancing religion, despite enjoying the financial benefits of being registered as a charity with the specific object of advancing religion”.
Director of the Iona Institute, David Quinn, told The Irish Catholic that Atheist Ireland were “just trying to make trouble”.
He said: “The idea that the Iona Institute is not a religious organisation is plainly ridiculous.”
The Iona Institute’s mission statement says their aim is to promote the place of marriage and religion in society, the freedom of conscience and religion, and the right to life.