This morning.

Mark Fearon writes:

Just voted in Killiney [County Dublin]. The lady who I got my ballot paper from had a Bible on the table. Surely that shouldn’t be allowed?

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Paul Gorman writes:

Polling station bias: At St.Philip the apostle school voting station in Clonsilla they have New Testament bibles beside the voting boxes.

Meanwhile…

‘sup?

This morning.

Location unspecified.

Brian Mc writes:

And the other thing… so no canvassing within 50m of a polling station, but a giant statue of the Virgin Mary as you arrive is fine? Don’t ever change Ireland. No wait, do! CHANGE!

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Italian Quarter, Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Thanks Graeme Kelly

 

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87 thoughts on “Biblical

  1. ZeligIsJaded

    One on each table in Cowper St. too

    Assumed it was something that people swore on if there was any issue with I.D.

    Am I naive ?

  2. Murtles

    Unfortunately it’s a procedural thing from days of old but still written into the Presiding Officers rulebook. It actually is possible for someone to swear on the bible to declare their identity even though it’s rarely used since we have new fangled yolks called ID’s now.

  3. Gillo

    Does this question not get asked everything time around? If someone turns up without id, they can be given the option of swearing their identity on the bible, similar to someone taking an oath on the bible when giving evidence in court. If it offends you bring appropriate photo identification and worry about the bigger things in

    1. Cian

      Yeah, but there is no need to have them on display.
      They could remove them from the tables, or at least turn them so you can’t see what it is.

      1. Dhaughton99

        Yes, turn the statue of Mary around in case she catches your eye. Maybe throw a blanket over her like a squawking parrot. Or better, smash her to pieces in the car park as a lesson to the believers.

        1. Cian

          You’re right – why the *hell* are there religious statues in schools paid for by the state. They should be removed immediately,

          1. mildred st. meadowlark

            I loved the morning prayer we had to sit through in my VEC non-denominational school. It was just great. Loved having prayers from a religion I’m not part of foisted on me during double history.

        2. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

          We used to make my Granny turn her statue of Jesus backwards when we stayed with her as he scared us. He used to loom over the top of the stairs. I think it was the inception of my Godlessness.

          1. Starina

            the house that overlooks mine has several creepy Virgin statues in the window. I have a pentagram in mine facing it. Cheers, neighbours.

    2. ____

      you’re given the option of swearing an oath, the bible isn’t necessary for that.

      1. The Old Boy

        Actually, it is. The President of the High Court has recently had a lot to say on the matter, disciplining solicitors and commissioners for oaths who fail to do so correctly when swearing affidavits.

        He went on to clarify that by law, you can’t simply opt for the secular affirmation due to the lack of a bible unless you state you are not Christian or Jewish, or are of a sect that prohibits the taking of oaths.

        They should have an Old Testament present for Jews who wish to swear. No provisions exist for members of other faiths.

        It’s nonsense, of course, but that is the law as it stands.

        1. Mickey Twopints

          That’s interesting. I’d better bring along a packet of penne just in case.

        2. Cian

          Can a Jew not just open the book at the New testament, and swear on th’other half?

          1. The Old Boy

            It certainly has been done, but it depends on the goodwill of the person taking the oath.

      1. Nigel

        The ONLY book I’ll swear an oath on is Susannah Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel.

  4. Not On Your Nelly

    People are mental. Get in, get out. And relax. Jay sus. Ignorance is a lethal weapon.

  5. Dhaughton99

    Some voters are that weak in their decisions, that they’ll instantly switch their vote because of a slight whiff of religion at the booth?

    1. Braaap

      Yup, for people traumatized by the catholic faith I’m sure symbolic references are enough to cause huge amounts of distress and emotion.

  6. The Old Boy

    I imagine, given the month that’s in it, lots of RC national schools will have May altars prominently displayed at the entrance.

    1. The Old Boy

      You did – and the issue has been hashed out on these pages many times already.

    2. Martco

      you did @newsjustin in fairness but there’s lots of younger wans out there who are inside a polling station for the very first time so the few comments are natural enough I expect.

      Looking busy down my way so far might be a bumper turnout, what are the queues like around your own neck of the woods, anyone?

      1. newsjustin

        The tweeters above both look about 40.

        Steady trickle when I was around. Couldn’t say it was up or down on any other vote. The weather should help everywhere.

      2. Repro-choice Bertie

        Noel Rock was tweeting about bibles in polling stations. So much for trusting politicians.

        1. Johnny

          He was like forest gump during the US presidential election,photobombing the Clinton campaign and grinning like a fool.The whole thing was cringe inducing,he was the tea boy for HRC in her senate campaign,and has hung around like Dennis O’Brien ever since.It was described as like waking in the park and stepping in dog s**t,you do your best to clean it off,but he just lingers long after.I’ve always considers him a sell out and class traitor,with any luck at the next election he’s consigned to the scrap heap off never beens.

    1. Murtles

      I always bring a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with me when voting. If I have to swear on anything it’ll be Hagrid not Jesus (better beard and all that).

  7. Barry the Hatchet

    JFC every single time there’s a vote some eejit brings up this stupid conspiracy theory, highlighting the fact that they’ve never actually voted before.

    1. newsjustin

      Maybe BS should actually post an explanation (gleaned from the last 3 times this came up) with each post like this.

    2. Dhaughton99

      Imagine being a teacher trying to teach this lot and they keep getting uppity and offended by everything you said.

  8. Karina

    Schools are full of bibles and statues, get a grip people. If it wasn’t the bibles and statues the yes crowd were moaning, whining and whinging about it would be something else. Get in and get out as someone else said earlier. This moaning and groaning has become such a habit with them. Whatever will they find to talk about from now on?

    1. SOQ

      Schools are full of bibles and statues.

      Once we remove this very extreme law and get in step with the rest of Europe on women’s healthcare, I expect that will be next on the list?

    2. Starina

      schools shouldn’t be full of bibles and statues in the first place. knowledge and religion should be kept seperate as they are non-compatible

  9. Martco

    folks

    remember your vote is all that counts today & if it’s a YES it delivers your own personal salute to the iconography on display.

    If u haven’t cast your vote yet –
    I really dunno what the idea of the Bible’s are, really, but don’t get into any discussions with the people manning the polling station, smile be polite get yer card & put a big fat middle finger tick in the box beside YES!

  10. Karina

    Health-care? Stop using that term as an excuse for on demand abortion for life-style choice. Abortions up to 24 or 26 weeks??? Never.

    1. Repro-choice Bertie

      Bit late to be fighting the campaign now Karina.

      For 35 years Ireland has been exporting a problem. Today it’s come home to vote.

      1. Karina

        How so? My voice is as important as yours and one you can’t conveniently silence because it doesn’t suit you. Have a blessed day Repro.

        1. Repro-choice Bertie

          I’m not trying to silence you, don’t be such a No-flake. I’m just suggesting you might be wasting your breath at this stage. We’ve had 5 weeks of the No side playing down the need for abortion and we’ll find out tomorrow how many bought their lies.

          Under his eye.

          1. Karina

            Repro, I’ve had weeks of listening to the yes side talk over and rubbish the NO side, there has been the highest degree of viciousness on here from the Broadsheet Yes Massive. You don’t have to interact with me but I am free to post comments just as you are. For a Westmeath man I thought you’d be a tad better than that.

          2. Repro-choice Bertie

            Once again, I haven’t told you not to post. Quit playing the victim. You are of course free to post just as people are free to use health-care as a reason to Repeal the 8th.

            The No side has been rubbished because their arguments are rubbish and because they have been lying and cheating throughout the campaign. Let’s ask Noel the nurse. Or should I consult my fake government guide? Or maybe the fake “impartial” website they set up? Or perhaps we’ll just talk about their belittling of mental health, except the mental health problems caused by abortion of course.

            Like most Westmeath men, I don’t take kindly to being lied to.

          3. Karina

            Be honest Repro, not just you, all of the yes clique on here cannot abide anyone with a different view to yours. That intolerable behaviour will have pushed undecided voters to vote NO, so I should be thanking you really. Yous talk about compassion, you’ve all behaved like rabid dogs in a dog fight. Disgusting.

            Blessed be your fruits of the dark forest, queen, may all that you send out, come back to you a thousandfold.

          4. Repro-choice Bertie

            I have no problem with people having a different opinion. I understand that a lot of people are really struggling with the whole abortion taking a life thing and balancing that up with the lives of women. That’s a matter for their own conscience but I’m happy to answer any questions they have as best I can and more than happy to point out the lies and half truths coming from the Iona institute and their fellow travellers.

            What I do have a problem with is people lying about their reasons and motivations and trying to impose their own messed up morality on everyone. I guess “Love the unborn but screw the living” wasn’t a catchy enough slogan.

          5. Karina

            Repro, the yes side have shown no understanding of people struggling with their conscience, that’s what I’ve found to be the toughest part in the lead up to this referendum.

          6. Repro-choice Bertie

            That hasn’t been my experience of it but that doesn’t negate yours. For the most part I saw a lot of understanding and sympathy for people who were struggling. Of course, that didn’t mean there weren’t efforts made to help them come to what the Yes side, and I include myself in that, would consider the right decision.

          7. Karina

            Thank you for your considered reply Repro, I appreciate it. I’ve really found it difficult, wavered a few times, in the end I had to stick to my guns. I am not affiliated with any No group or whatever and am a lapsed Catholic due to all of the abuses the priests, bishops, nuns etc bestowed upon the young and the vulnerable.

            Its not playing the victim either to say, which I must, that it has been nigh on impossible to say you were going to vote no on BS, i would imagine the verocity of the daily verbal attacks on Newsjustin kept many from voicing their opinion. I am not a naturally unpleasant person as I’m sure most posters of BS aren’t.

    2. mildred st. meadowlark

      You’re in rare form this morning. But late for that now, seeing as it’s voting day. Everyone has long made up their mind.

        1. Papi

          The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

        2. mildred st. meadowlark

          Lol. Bit rich coming from someone who thinks that by voting No she’s somehow ‘saving’ babies.

          But you do you darling.

          1. mildred st. meadowlark

            Hah. No, that’s tomorrow. All in good time.

            Trust me you’ll know when the incantation is done.

  11. newsjustin

    The bible is an option for you to swear on to promise you are who you say you are if you have not brought your id and don’t want to stroll home to get it.

  12. Cu Cullan

    All that aside, I won’t have a harsh word said against our mother goddess.. we know which way she’d vote because it is her love that’s giving us this choice.. yes Mary..

  13. Niall Farrell

    This morning i went to vote in County Galway – Maree National School to be exact – and strategically placed beside the voting box was a bible. I questioned the two women in charge of the vote about its presence. They claimed it was an oversight. I demanded it be removed, which they were reluctant to do. I then spoke with the female Garda and she eventually and reluctantly took down a complaint from me and said she would ensure the bible was removed. An hour later my wife returned from voting and she said she had also spotted the bible there. So my complaint to both the Garda and the polling officers had been ignored. I now intend to take this up with GSOC – although in my experience that is the cops investigating the cops and therefore useless. I contacted the returning officer’s office in Galway Court House and i was told that it is NOT permitted to have a bible present. It will be interesting to see if it is removed now.

    1. rotide

      As has been explained multiple times to first time voters like yourself, the bible is there for people to swear an oath on in the case of a lack of ID.

      They could hide it in the freezer for fear it might shine gods light of destruction on any yes voters passing by but then the polling staff would have to get up and get it any time they need it. Just to re-iterate, they ARE used. A yes voter I know used one today and unbelievbly they didnt burst into flames.

      Are you THAT threatened by the presence of a bible that you’re going to go to the GSOC?

      1. Janet, I ate my Avatar

        I’m more offended than threatened tbh
        I’m offended a book of gobbildy gook has any place in the running of this Nation

    2. SOQ

      There is no reason for it to be displayed in such a sensitive referendum apart from attempting to influence the vote so yes Niall, go for it. It is only when these things are challenged will they change.

      1. newsjustin

        Neither is there any need for it, part of the polling station toolkit, to be hidden. In fact, I’d much prefer everything was out on the tables on display (as they are in my experience) and not tucked in drawers, cupboards, bags. Openness and transparency starts with the most basic things.

    3. Junkface

      I hope that there isn’t voter fraud going on in these Voting centres where the staff insist on putting bibles close to the voting booths. Something stinks, this seems to be reported all over the country. The no side are full of dirty tricks

  14. rotide

    EVERY. BLOODY. TIME.

    Why do we have to put up with this manufactured outrage every single referendum?

    I was wondering why this was never an issue untill the last few years but then, all the referendums before this was before idiots could use twitter to vent their outrage to the world in general.

  15. Andrew

    Why can’t they keep it in a drawer? Take it out if it’s requested.
    Realistically, how often have they asked someone to swear on the bible?

  16. Spaghetti Hoop

    When the poor election officials at the polling stations asked for the “Book of Unspecified Things That Look Like Ireland” to ease the afternoon slump, someone took it literally.

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