Yesterday, the Irish parliament passed a bill that criminalizes blasphemy.  The definition of what constitutes an offense under the new law is frighteningly ambiguous.  Basically, according to the statute, blasphemy is anything of a religious nature that causes “outrage.”

For example, those Muhammad cartoons published in Denmark?  Illegal.  Atheist opinions stating that god doesn’t exist?  Illegal.  Jews who claim Jesus was not the messiah?  Illegal.

The law also gives the Irish government the right to enter and search any home in which they suspect “blasphemous materials” exist.  So, if you live in Ireland, you’d better get rid of your Monty Python movies, your Family Guy DVDs, your copies of Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses, and any other piece of literature, film, or art that uses religious imagery in a way that may offend someone.  That goes for you libraries too, since the Irish government apparently has a list of blasphemous books it would like you to remove from your shelves.

Persons charged with blasphemy under the law will face confiscation of the offending materials and a $25,000 dollar fine.

Thank god that, here in the US, we have a first amendment - at least for the moment.  This type of law is why every American, on right or the left, should rail against ANY free speech limits, be it Hate Crime Legislation, The DMCA,  The Fairness Doctrine, or this memo from the Bush administration.

It’s sad to see a supposedly enlightened western nation go the way of Saudi Arabia.  I was born, raised, and still am, Catholic.  Hopefully, the free-minded people of Ireland will wake up, and take back what I believe is a God given right to voice opinions regarding ANY religion.

- Robert Laurie