Religious Fundamentalism and Irish Republicanism

In recent times, much has been made about the possibility that Gerry McGeough may be running as an anti-policng candidate in the assembly elections in the 6 counties. This speculation is made all the more interesting by the fact that McGeough, who left Sinn Féin 3 years ago, is the editor of 'the Hibernian' magazine, a right-wing, catholic fundamentalist publication linked to the AOH. While those proposing his candidacy may wish it to be purely based on the policing issue, the truth is this will not be possible.

I have no interest in a personal vendetta against Mr McGeough, so I will focus instead on the philosophy espoused by Catholic Fundamentalism and, in my view, its complete incompatibility with Irish Republicanism.

For one thing, and this should be quite obvious, the blatant religious sectarianism of such people completely flies in the face of our history as republicans. For those who believe that their is something intrinsically and purely Irish about Catholicism, yet claim to be of the republican position, I wonder how do they feel going to Bodenstown to commemorate a protestant republican? How do they feel about the aim of uniting Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter? Can the principle ofcivil and religious liberty of all our citizens be convincingly espoused by people who passionately believe that there is something inherently superior about the catholic faith. This is nothing against practicing catholics, I know many good republicans who are practicing catholics, (although most I know personally tend to share by scepticism about organised religion) what I question is the republicanism of those with prescriptive sense of morality based on the teachings of one faith. (Or their own restrictive interpretations of those teachings)

The attitude towards homosexuality of such groups is certainly anathema to me as a republican. The assumption that homosexuality is some sort of perversion is hardly compatible with a quest for equality and freedom. Apart from anything else, this attitude flies in the face of all concepts of basic decency. Quite frankly the sexual activities of consensual homosexual adults should be of no concern to anyone besides those adults themselves, in the same way as the sexual activities of a heterosexual couple would be no one's business only their own.

People of this mindset are stuck in the dark ages and want to bring the rest of us back to their fantasy world where fundamentalist catholic dogma dictates how we should live our lives. Such people have no place in Irish republicanism, a progressive philosophy based on social justice. People espousing such out-dated and quite frankly, disturbing dogma, may be a lot of things, but they are certainly not republicans.