I had a constructive Twitter conversation with Ashley Miller yesterday, which we hope to continue soon, about Atheist Ireland’s dissociation from the harmful and hateful rhetoric of PZ Myers. Parts of it are storified here. I appreciate Ashley’s commitment to researching the evidence, and her willingness to engage in reasoned dialogue. It is a hopeful sign.
However, not everybody has responded in the same way. I’ve learned some time ago that, whenever you highlight the smears of PZ Myers, you have to also schedule some time to correct the new smears that will be invented to distract attention from the original smears.
This time around, some defenders of PZ’s hateful rhetoric are now extending the ongoing smearing of me personally, to now also smear the integrity and good work of Atheist Ireland, and to outrageously link our Dublin Chairperson Ashling O’Brien, our Newsletter Editor Derek Walsh, and our Human Rights Officer Jane Donnelly (who chaired our international conference on Empowering Women through Secularism), with supporting abusers and silencing rape victims.
I am typically more comfortable defending others than defending myself. Indeed, it was in response to me defending others that PZ turned his focus on me. And believe me, I will strongly defend my friends and colleagues in Atheist Ireland against these scandalous smears against their character and the important work they are doing.
Fortunately, outside of the choir to which these smears are being preached, they will bump into the reality of Atheist Ireland’s hard-earned reputation for patient, detailed, robust, persistent work on the ground to promote atheism, reason and ethical secularism, and the integrity and good character of our committee members. Nevertheless, it is useful to put on record the new smears, and to contrast them with the actual work done by Atheist Ireland.
This post examines recent responses involving:
1. Xenophobic prejudice against Atheist Ireland and Ireland
2. Attributing false motivations to Atheist Ireland
3. Outrageously defamatory smears about Atheist Ireland
4. Suggestions that Atheist Ireland is only Michael Nugent
5. Contrasted with an overview of Atheist Ireland’s work
6. And reports from the most recent Atheist Ireland AGM
1. Xenophobic prejudice against Atheist Ireland and Ireland
Ophelia Benson described Atheist Ireland’s statement as:
“Excommunicating PZ from a tiny organization he didn’t belong to in the first place, in a country with a population the size of Louisiana’s.”
Aside from the incorrect use of the word excommunicate, this is simply a prejudiced dismissal of both Atheist Ireland and Ireland itself, based solely on the size of our population.
It came soon after PZ had described me as ‘the Irish wanker’, and then later ‘that wanker from Atheist Ireland’. Altogether a nice mix of xenophobic prejudice that adds nothing constructive to the discourse.
This is particularly strange coming from Ophelia, who predicted this very argument and condemned it in advance last year, when she tweeted about me:
Ophelia – “Imagine if we called him some slur for “Irish” but pretended it was ok because specific to him. Explosions would ensue.”
SpokesGay – “And he’d immediately expect you to have banished such a commenter yesterday without having it pointed out to you.”
Ophelia – “I’d have banished or rebuked before he saw it.”
2. Attributing false motivations to Atheist Ireland
Ophelia also said about the Atheist Ireland statement that:
“This business of “disassociating” is just trying to make “I hate you I hate you I hate you!!!” look official and important. I don’t think many people are fooled.”
But did Ophelia say the same when PZ Myers published a post titled:
“I officially divorce myself from the skeptic movement”?
Did Ophelia say then that PZ was “just trying to make “I hate you I hate you I hate you!!!” look official and important”? No, she didn’t. So why is she saying it now about Atheist Ireland?
This is particularly strange, given that Ophelia personally knows several of the Officers of Atheist Ireland. She actually knows that this is not how we think, that we do not hate anybody and indeed campaign against hatred, yet she chooses to write it anyway.
It is also strange because, after our Empowering Women in Secularism Conference in Dublin two years ago, Ophelia said that she mostly agreed with what I said to her about “the drama”.
3. Outrageously defamatory smears about Atheist Ireland
A commenter on Ophelia’s blog described Atheist Ireland as:
“an organization that’s happy to let bigots run amok and provide a safe space for creepy men to harass women. So fuck Nugent, and fuck his organization. He is an Irish Wanker, and he can quote me on that.”
This is scandalously false. Atheist Ireland campaigns actively to protect and promote women’s rights within our organisation and within society. We are one of only two atheist organisations in the world to have hosted an international conference on Empowering Women Through Secularism. We have women in key positions of Secretary, Human Rights officer and Dublin Chairperson.
Also, the SecularWoman Twitter account joined in with a similar smear, linking Atheist Ireland, our Dublin Chairperson Ashling O’Brien, our Newsletter Editor Derek Walsh, and our Human Rights Officer Jane Donnelly (who chaired our international conference on Empowering Women through Secularism), with supporting abusers and silencing rape victims. Thank you to Atheist Northern Ireland for bringing this to our attention.
SecularWoman – Instead of supporting abusers support folks like @ashleyfmiller @pzmyers @rebeccawatson @AlexGabriel @heinousdealings @GretaChristina
Atheist NI to SecularWoman – Are you saying that our colleagues @atheistie support abusers? If so, that’s an outrageous statement.
SecularWoman to Atheist NI – that is the definition of supporting abusers and we disassociate ourselves from it.
Ashling O’Brien to SecularWoman – Hi @SecularWoman I am on the executive committee of @atheistie, are you saying that I support abusers?
Derek Walsh to SecularWoman – Same goes for me. Are you also saying I support the silencing of rape victims?
Jane Donnelly to SecularWoman – And me. Are you also saying that I support the silencing of rape victims?
SecularWoman to Ashling O’Brien, Derek Walsh and Jane Donnelly – that depends. Do you stand behind Nugent’s comments and the statement that was released? If so we have nothing to discuss.
SecularWoman – Documentation of Nugent’s comments and silencing of rape victims: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/11/01/the-end-of-the-micknugent-saga/
As an aside, if you follow this link, it alleges that I support silencing of rape victims, while actually quoting me saying the opposite of that. Also, it was posted last November by PZ Myers and titled ‘The end of the Mick Nugent saga.’ That seems to have worked pretty well, then.
Derek Walsh to SecularWoman – Yes I do. But neither I nor any other @atheistie committee members – including @micknugent – support silencing rape victims.
SecularWoman to Derek Walsh – this timeline and Nugent’s own words say otherwise: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/11/01/the-end-of-the-micknugent-saga/
Derek Walsh – They don’t though, at all. Most of it is Michael requesting that PZ withdraw the sort of defamatory smears you are now making. It’s not clear why you would continue to make such blatantly false and harmful statements. Please withdraw them.
Jane Donnelly to SecularWoman – Never heard of you before, obviously a troll and I agree we have nothing to discuss
SecularWoman to Jane Donnelly – we are not a troll or a trolling account. You and others came into our mentions with questions and we are responding. if you would like us not to contact you we will honor that immediately.
Jane Donnelly to SecularWoman – Spent 3hrs at Children’s rights meeting, came home to a tweet that I supported abusers
Secular Woman to Ashling O’Brien – that depends. Do you stand behind Nugent’s comments and the statement that was released? If so we have nothing to discuss.
Ashling O’Brien to SecularWoman – the statement that was released was from the @atheistie executive committee, I am on that committee, I stand behind it 100%. So are you saying I support abusers?
Secular Woman to Ashling O’Brien – do you do or support the things we have outlined as supportive of abusers? If so that answers your question.
Ashling O’Brien to SecularWoman – tbh I find it quite shocking that any group which claims to give a voice to women would ask another woman that question
Secular Woman to Ashling O’Brien – why? women are just as capable of supporting and perpetuating abuse, sexism, etc.
Ashling O’Brien to SecularWoman – the statement I put my name behind outlined atrocious behaviour towards the secular/atheist community by @pzmyers & for that you try to tell me I am supporting abusers? You can’t see anything wrong with that? Have you become so desensitised?
Derek Walsh to SecularWoman – But why are you making these heinous accusations of women who have spent years fighting for women’s rights? They are disgusting allegations that are not only unfounded but fly in the face of all the evidence.
During this, Ashling O’Brien also had this exchange with a person named Donnie @DPSisler
Donnie to Ashling O’Brien – Just so we are same page, AI does not stand behind victims
Ashling O’Brien to Donnie – on the same page? We’re not even reading from the same book. @atheistie has stood behind me.
Donnie to Ashling O’Brien – Thank you. AI supports speakers who have non-consensual sex (rape) of attendees.
Ashling O’Brien to Donnie – What are you thanking me for? Last AI conference nearly all women speakers. Are you suggesting one of them raped an attendee? http://facebook.com/EWTS2013. As much as I would love to continue this, I’m going out canvassing for marriage equality. You know, with nice social activists who don’t resort to calling each other wankers. you describe yourself as a skeptic and humanist, I see evidence of neither in this interaction. Can I suggest you do more research preferably outside of Free Thought Blogs and then we can talk further if you want.
Here is another exchange between Jennifer McCreight @jennifurret and former Atheist Ireland Committee member Peter Ferguson @Humanisticus. In particular, the final tweet by Jennifer is entirely false.
Jennifer – Apparently Atheist Ireland only supports feminism when it’s critiquing religion. Michael Nugent loved my talk but missed the big picture
Peter – What has criticising PZ’s violent rhetoric and defamatory smears got to do with Atheist Ireland’s support of feminism?
Jennifer – the fact that you’re delusional enough to think anything @pzmyers has said is violent or a smear
Peter – Even if I and Atheist Ireland are entirely wrong on that matter it still doesn’t say saying about their position on feminism.
Jennifer – They’re attacking @pzmyers completely bc of his support of women coming forward about harassment & rape. Feminism is relevant
4. Suggestions that Atheist Ireland is only Michael Nugent
Several of PZ’s defenders are implying in various ways that Atheist Ireland is only Michael Nugent, presumably in order to minimise the significance of a national organisation dissociating itself from his behaviour.
Flattering though it may be to attribute to me all of the achievements of Atheist Ireland, it is nonsensically untrue, and it is disrespectful to the many people who devote countless voluntary hours every week to our work in Ireland and internationally.
We have been trying for years to ask PZ to behave more responsibly, both in private conversations and in online disagreements between PZ, some of his defenders, and some Atheist Ireland committee members.
But this has been only a tiny part of our overall work. An increasingly important part, but still only a tiny part. Here are some examples of our work.
5. Overview of Atheist Ireland’s work
Atheist Ireland founded 2008, run on a voluntary basis.
Regional groups around country, 7,000 online supporters.
Promote atheism, reason through conferences, publications, media.
Preparing objective course about atheism for primary school pupils.
Brief TDs and Senators, address Oireachtas hearings and meetings.
Registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission.
Advise people on human rights and liaise with human rights bodies.
Work with other rights-based groups including ESC Children’s Rights.
Met Presidents of European Commission, Parliament, Council 2010.
Hosted successful World Atheist Convention in Dublin in 2011.
Affiliated to Atheist Alliance International, relaunched in Dublin in 2011.
Briefed and attendedOSCE Human Dimension in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Met Council of Europe delegations about human rights in 2012.
Hosted Conference on Empowering Women Through Secularism 2013.
Briefed and attended United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2014.
Founder member International Coalition Against Blasphemy Laws 2015.
Met Irish Prime Minister, Education Minister and Civil Servants in 2015.
Will be attending UN session on ESC rights in 2015
Will be attending UN session on Rights of the Child in 2016.
6. Reports from most recent Atheist Ireland AGM
Atheist Ireland had a very busy and successful 2014, with breakthroughs in international lobbying at the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the OSCE annual human rights meeting; ongoing national lobbying on secular education and healthcare as well as laws including blasphemy and the Civil Registration Act; plus strong organisational development at regional level and upgrades to our website.
This video covers some of these achievements, as reported to the 2014 AGM on 25 October, by Chairperson Michael Nugent, Human Rights Officer Jane Donnelly, Regional Officer Kevin Sheehan, Dublin Chairperson Ashling O’Brien, Cavan Monaghan Chairperson John Hamill, North West Committee Member Kelvin O’Connor, Secretary Helen O’Shea and Finance Officer Sean O’Shea.
6(a) International Political lobbying on Human Rights
October 2013
Michael Nugent and Jane Donnelly spoke at the OSCE’s international human rights implementation conference in Warsaw, Poland. This annual conference monitors how OSCE states are implementing their human rights obligations under international treaties.
We highlighted ongoing breaches of the human rights of atheists to freedom of conscience and belief, freedom of expression, equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, the right of pregnant women to health, the rights of the child and the right to a secular education.
We asked the OSCE to specifically combat discrimination against atheists in the same way as it specifically combats discrimination against Muslims, Jews and Christians. Read more.
November 2013
The UN Human Rights Committee published the list of issues that it will ask Ireland about, under the fourth periodic review of Ireland’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The UN is to ask Ireland about three specifically secular issues raised by Atheist Ireland – the religious oaths for Irish public office holders, discrimination against atheists and religious minorities in Irish primary schools, and the Irish law against blasphemy. Read more.
March 2014
Atheist Ireland made a written submission to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on Ireland’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Read more.
Atheist Ireland published an analysis of Why religious education must be neutral and objective, and how the Irish State is ignoring our human rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Read more.
July 2014
Michael Nugent and Jane Donnelly briefed the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva about religious discrimination in Ireland, particularly in the education system. The issues we raised in our briefing were directly reflected in many of the UN’s questions to the Irish State delegation, led by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald. Read more.
In a significant exchange, the Irish Government formally accepted that the will of the Irish people as expressed in a referendum or parliamentary vote cannot be used to deny human rights, including to pregnant women who need an abortion to protect their health. Read more.
The Irish Government evaded most of the secular-related questions in its formal written response. Read more.
The UN Human Rights Committee told Ireland to stop breaching the human rights of atheists and minority faiths in the education system. Read more.
The UN Human Rights Committee told Ireland to stop breaching the human rights of atheists and minority faith teachers and health workers. Read more.
The UN Human Rights Committee told Ireland to remove religious oaths for public office and to remove the law against blasphemy. Read more.
These conclusions will form the basis of much of Atheist Ireland’s political work in the coming years. We have been working towards this event for several years, and this is the culmination to date of our policy of building our political lobbying on the foundation of human rights law.
September 2014
Atheist Ireland made a written submission to UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, who will be questioning Ireland next year on its obligations with regard to these rights.
We outlined the failure of the Irish State to protect the human rights of atheists and secularists in the Irish Education system, and with regard to employment in senior political and legal jobs, and with regard to discrimination against women under the right to health, and with regard to blasphemy laws under cultural rights, and it shows how Irelands’ human rights obligations are incompatible with the Irish Constitution. Read more.
October 2014
Michael Nugent and Kevin Sheehan attended and spoke at the OSCE’s international human rights implementation conference in Warsaw, Poland. This annual conference monitors how OSCE states are implementing their human rights obligations under international treaties.
We highlighted ongoing breaches of the human rights of atheists to freedom of conscience and belief, freedom of expression, equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, the right of pregnant women to health, the rights of the child and the right to a secular education.
We again asked the OSCE to specifically combat discrimination against atheists in the same way as it specifically combats discrimination against Muslims, Jews and Christians. Read more.
6(b) National Political Lobbying on Constitutional Change
October 2013
Atheist Ireland welcomed the call from six members of the Council of State for the removal of the religious elements from the oaths that the Irish President, judges and Council of State members have to swear in order to take up office. Read more.
Atheist Ireland made a written submission to the Constitutional Convention, titled A Secular Constitution for a Pluralist People. We recommended (a) Remove specific references to God (b) Replace all religious oaths for public officeholders with a single neutral declaration, and (c) Amend the Articles on Fundamental Rights to explicitly give equal protection to religious and nonreligious philosophical believers. Read more.
Atheist Ireland made a written submission to the Constitutional Convention, titled Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Without Discrimination. We asked the Convention to add the protection of ESC Rights onto its agenda, and to recommend to the Government to examine how best to protect ESC rights without discrimination on any of the grounds listed in the ICESCR. Read more.
November 2013
Michael Nugent, David Nash and Jane Donnelly addressed the Constitutional Convention on the topic of the blasphemy clause. We highlighted the impact of the Irish blasphemy law in ireland and internationally, including the case of Asia Bibi in Pakistan. Read more.
Atheist Ireland members, coordinated by regional officer Kevin Sheehan, attended all public meetings of the Constitutional Convention in Cork, Galway, Waterford, Dublin, Sligo, Athlone and Monaghan.
Atheist Ireland responded critically to the Constitutional Convention’s report on blasphemy law. We are concerned that the Convention wanted to replace the offence in the Constitution with a new general provision to include incitement to religious hatred. Read more.
Atheist Ireland made a supplementary submission to the Constitutional Convention titled First, Fix the Foundation: Separate Church and State. Read more.
The Constitutional Convention responded disappointingly to the many citizens who asked it to discuss Separation of Church and State. Only 2% of Convention members voted to discuss the topic, despite it receiving more support than any other topic in the Convention’s public feedback process, and it will therefore not be on the Convention’s agenda. Read more.
October 2014
The government has finally announced that a referendum will be held next year to remove the offence of blasphemy from the constitution. Atheist Ireland has campaigned against blasphemy laws since its inception, and is now planning our referendum campaign which will be formalised once we know the wording that the Government is proposing.
6(c) National Political Lobbying on Secular Education
October 2013
Atheist Ireland published advice for parents and other citizens who are making a submission to the Department of Education’s consultation on promoting greater inclusiveness in primary schools. Read more.
Atheist Ireland made a formal written submission on the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. We argued that the proposed legislation fails in its overall objective to ensure that school enrolment policies and procedures are non-discriminatory and are applied fairly in respect of all applicants. So called religious exemptions are in fact religious discrimination which breaches the human rights of minorities. Read more.
November 2013
Atheist Ireland made a written submission to the Equality Authority, regarding a proposed amendment to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998-2011. This is the Section that allows religious, educational or medical institutions to discriminate against employees or potential employees who do not share the religious values and ethos of the religion that runs the institution. Read more.
Atheist Ireland wrote to the Minister for Education about inclusiveness in primary schools. We said that a Government consultation leaflet on the issue had ignored fundamental human rights issues raised buy the UN Human Rights Committee. Read more.
Atheist Ireland made a written submission to the Department of Education on Promoting Greater Inclusiveness in Primary Schools. We argued that Catholic Church teaching on education is incompatible with human rights law, and the Irish State has failed to respect and protect the human rights of secular parents and their children in denominational schools. Read more.
December 2013
Jane Donnelly made a presentation, and answered questions from TDs and Senators, at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. The meeting was discussing the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. Jane told the Committee that Irish schools breach human rights law. Read more. And more here.
Atheist Ireland wrote to the Ombudsman for Children, about the need to protect the human rights of secular parents and their children from the religious integrated curriculum in denominational Irish primary schools. Read more.
January 2014
The European Court judgment in the Louise O’Keeffe case changed everything in the campaign for secular education in Ireland. The State was arguing that it was not responsible for protecting Louise O’Keeffe’s human rights while she was in school, because the State did not run the school directly. The European Court has now told the State that it was responsible for protecting Louise O’Keeffe’s human rights while she was in school, regardless of whether it runs the schools directly. And that ruling has implications for all of the human rights that are breached by religiously-run national schools in Ireland. Read more.
February 2014
Atheist Ireland wrote a second letter to the Ombudsman for Children, about the advice that she has given to the Minister for Education on religious discrimination in admission to primary schools. Read more.
Atheist Ireland published, with permission, stories from two parents about religious discrimination and indoctrination in their local schools. Read more.
March 2014
The Oireachtas Committee on Education called for integration not segregation in schools, as proposed by Atheist Ireland. It concluded that multiple patronage and ethos as a basis for policy can lead to segregation and inequality in the education system, and that the objectives of admission policy should be equality and integration. Read more.
May 2014
Atheist Ireland published an analysis of a speech by the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, in which we argued that ‘Parental Choice’ in education is a euphemism for religious segregation. Read more.
August 2014
Educate Together made two statements recently that undermine the duty of the Irish Government to provide secular education though new non-denominational schools, as required by the UN Human Rights Committee. Educate Together did this by blurring the distinction between multi-denominational schools (which Educate Together schools are) and non-denominational schools (which the UN Human Rights Committee has told Ireland to provide access to). Read more.
Atheist Ireland published an analysis of how Irish law effectively prohibits non-denominational secular schools based on human rights, despite the Irish Government telling the UN Human Rights Committee last month that there are no obstacles to establishing such schools in Ireland. Read more.
September 2014
Atheist Ireland responded to a call by Dr Ali Selim of the Islamic Cultural Centre for a “revolution of inclusivity” in Irish schools and “an upheaval in Irish educational perspectives”, by inviting the two publicly funded National schools under the patronage of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland to lead the way by including the children of atheists and secularists in their schools. Read more.
6(d) National Political Lobbying on other Secular Issues
February 2014
Atheist Ireland published an analysis of the Civil Registration Act titled Rules for secular marriage? The Irish Civil Registration Service is making it up as they go along. It included a summary of our lengthy correspondence with the Civil Registration Service and Information Commissioner over the past year. Read more.
March 2014
Atheist Ireland made a written submission on the Draft General Scheme for Advance Healthcare Directives for Incorporation into the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill (2013). Read more.
April 2014
Atheist Ireland began asking European and Local Election candidates to sign a Secular Statement, based on the one adopted at the World Atheist Convention in Dublin in 2011, and to publish details of all responses, to enable voters to know which candidates are most and least supportive of freedom of belief and separation of church and state. Our Cavan Monaghan branch started that process led by branch chairperson John Hamill. Read more. And more. And more.
Atheist Ireland sent a briefing to document to Senators about a Bill that aims to amend Section 37 of the Irish Employment Equality Act. This is the Section that allows religious institutions, including schools and hospitals, an exemption to discriminate against employees to protect the religious ethos of their institution. Read more.
The concerns and proposals raised by Atheist Ireland in our briefing document to Senators were raised in the Seanad, during a Committee Stage debate on Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act. Read more.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said that the approach of the current Seanad Bill allowing religious discrimination is undesirable, and may continue to leave the State exposed to a breach of its obligations under the European Employment Equality Directive 2000/78. Read more.
May 2014
The Irish Catholic newspaper manufactured a controversy about Atheist Ireland and the Green Party, using poor research and failures in basic journalistic standards. It also misled its readers by failing to report its own role in the controversy. Read more.
November 2014
Atheist Ireland wrote to Kerry County Council about the decision to erect a crucifix in the new Council Chamber. We have asked them what steps they have taken to see whether this decision complies with equality legislation and the code of conduct for councillors. We will be following up on this issue during the coming year.
Atheist Ireland wrote to the Minister for the Environment about the use of religious oaths, and the display of Bibles and religious symbols, in polling stations during the coming referendum on blasphemy. We highlighted the UN Human Rights Committee’s reminder to Ireland about the human right to not be required to reveal your religious or nonreligious beliefs in public.
6(e) Primary School Lessons about Atheism
Atheist Ireland launched the fundraising for our project to finance, develop, design and piloti Ireland’s first ever primary school course about atheism. We are working with Educate Together to coordinate this project, with information provided by us and developed into lessons by professionals. This project caught imaginations around the world. Read more.
In January 2013 we started preliminary meetings with Educate Together regarding the new course about atheism. There are around 70 Educate Together schools in Ireland out of over 3000.
We now have the funding raised to begin developing this course, and we will be announcing more details in the coming months.
7. Summary
As usual, after highlighting the smears of PZ Myers, I have to correct the new smears that are invented to distract attention from the original smears.
This time around, these smears are aimed at Atheist Ireland, and outrageously link our Dublin Chairperson Ashling O’Brien, our Newsletter Editor Derek Walsh, and our Human Rights Officer Jane Donnelly (who chaired our international conference on Empowering Women through Secularism), with supporting abusers and silencing rape victims.
I am typically more comfortable defending others than defending myself. Indeed, it was in response to me defending others that PZ turned his focus on me. And believe me, I will strongly defend my friends and colleagues in Atheist Ireland against these scandalous smears against their character and the important work they are doing.
This will be done alongside Atheist Ireland’s continuing work on the ground building an ethical secular society, and our continuing work to challenge the harmful, hateful, violent and defamatory rhetoric of PZ Myers.