The Meaning of 'Religion' in Irish Case Law

The analysis contained in this paper focuses on the issue of the meaning of religion in Irish case law. Moving from the articles of the Irish constitution, which regard three specific issues, controversial in the contemporary Irish society - abortion, primary school education and blasphemy - the analysis of some judgments, mainly enacted by the Supreme Court of Ireland, allow to enter in the fascinating and controversial path which judges undergo when they have to decide such delicate issues. Given the importance of Catholic religion in Ireland, my research was guided by a principal question: do judges have the capacity to broadly interpret the meaning of religion, or is Catholic religion still influential and able to condition the judgements concerning the above mentioned three issues? The interpretation of the meaning of religion depends on many variables, such as judges, political scenarios, personal beliefs and nationality of the people involved. So, the meaning of religion in Irish case law has certainly undergone a dynamic process moving from a strictly Catholic perspective to a more open and respectful one of different religious (and non-religious) values. What is religion? Is it moral? Is it philosophy? Is it politics?