Outline policy on Church and State
| Date: | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Organisation: | Democratic Socialist Party |
| View: | View Document |
| Discuss: | Comments on this document |
| Subjects: | Divorce Contraception Religion, Church and State |
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Commentary From The Cedar Lounge Revolution
7th March 2011
This is the first document from the Democratic Socialist Party that has been added to the Archive, a notable omission. The DSP is most famously the organisation founded by Jim Kemmy in the very early 1970s following his departure from the Labour Party.
It was notable for its social liberalism on a range of issues, including the areas covered in this document, as well as being strongly anti-Republican. In that respect there was some crossover of activities with both BICO and the Socialist Party of Ireland (1970s). Kemmy was elected to the Dáíl in 1982 where he remained until well after the merger of the DSP with the Labour Party in 1990. The wiki page above suggests that some members of the DSP later joined Democratic Left. As has been noted here , a number of contemporary Labour Tds can trace their political lineage back to the DSP.
The document itself is, as it notes, an ‘outline’ policy on Church and State. As it states in the introductory paragraphs:
The DSP stands for the separation of church from state in the Republic of Ireland. We are not opposed to religion: rather, we view it as a private matter between the individuals and his/her church, if he/she has one. We recognise the rights of individuals, churches and religious associations to hold and proclaim their various views; we oppose the enshrining of religious beliefs in law. In particular we believe that religious organisations would not control public institutions. Democratic control of such institutions and public accountability for public funds: these are the keystones of our policy in this area.
And overview of past Church State relations is provided and this engages with a range of areas, including Education, Divorce, Contraception, Health and ‘Other areas in need of reform’.
There is a veiled reference to abortion under Health, and the Education area is dealt with in some detail. All told it makes for striking reading some thirty years later.
**IEL adds I’m lucky enough to have a few Election leaflets from the DSP that may add to the article. John De Courcy Ireland from November 1982 and the 1984 European Elections as well as a 1984 ‘Special Election Edition’ of The Free Press.
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By: John O'Neill Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:30:12
The person I’m referring to his Mother ran for the DSP in Finglas and Da would have been close to B&ICO
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By: Mark P Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:43:20
Speaking of matters archival, I’ve just seen a fascinating document by Bob Purdie in which he gives an account of his dealings with the Officials down through the years. It’s on the Red Mole Rising blog, which is attempting to scan the publications of the now defunct International Marxist Group in Britain.
Click to access remembering-the-officials.pdf
I’m not sure if this document has already been discussed here.
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By: WorldbyStorm Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:36:19
In reply to Mark P.
I think it has, but I’m not certain. Good to see it either way.
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By: NollaigO Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:58:58
In reply to WorldbyStorm.
I have read the document but didn’t know that it was in the public domain. You should have a copy WbS!
It was written by request for TLR and many passages are quoted in TLR.
It would be a useful document for the Archive.
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By: Brian Hanley Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:08:13
Yes, Bob Purdie was kind enough to write this and give to us in 2006. Many who have read and were around during the events he mentions find it very evocative.
On the DSP. I think the party was founded in 1982. In 1972 Kemmy and a number of others had left the Labour Party in Limerick and started the Limerick Socialist Organisation (after lots of conflict with Stevie Coughlan and co). That group published it’s own paper, the Limerick Socialist, which covered local news plus published a lot of Workers Association/BICO material.
The WA had taken part in a debate with the Labour Party on the national question in Limerick during 1971. Until then Kemmy had held fairly conventional socialist republican views on the North. Kemmy was at various stages, secretary of the Building Trades group in Limerick and the Bricklayers union. There was a lot of good local coverage in the LSO paper and various historical stuff (the first criticism of Sean South for example). Kemmy was elected to the council in 1974, representing the area that included Garryowen, his home turf. He was very critical of Labour, and promised to represent working class interests on the council. He was also openly ‘two-nationist’ and publicly argued for the deletion of articles 2 & 3 etc. He was widely recognised as a very hard worker and slowly built up a base in the city, eventually winning a seat in 1981, losing it in 1982 and winning it back in 1987.
Elements of the local Labour party certainly colluded in the attacks on Kemmy over abortion in 1982.
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By: Neues aus den Archiven der radikalen (und nicht so radikalen) Linken « Entdinglichung Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:54:47
[…] Democratic Socialist Party (DSP): Outline policy on Church and State (~ […]
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By: Left Archive: Outline Policy on Full Employment – Democratic Socialist Party c. 1981 | The Cedar Lounge Revolution Mon, 28 Oct 2013 02:31:29
[…] in the late 1970s and early 1980s [for the other leaflet from the DSP in the Archive please see here]. Each pamphlet took a different policy area and expanded across four or five pages on the approach […]
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