A CONTROVERSIAL decision to place a crucifix on the wall of the Kerry County Council chambers is to be referred to the Equality Authority by infuriated atheists who claim it is in breach of a code of conduct councillors are asked to sign up to.
The crucifix was erected in the renovated meeting room at the request of Killarney councillor John Joe Culloty whose proposal was carried on a 6-3 vote.
Cllr Culloty said when he attends health forum meetings in the local authority chambers in Cork he notices there is a crucifix on the wall and there was no reason there shouldn’t be a similar symbol on the wall in the chambers in Tralee.
But the move has been condemned by Atheist Ireland who have labelled it an attempt to promote religious supremacy.
A spokesman said it places Christianity above all other beliefs and the views of those that don’t believe in any religion.
Atheist Ireland said there is an onus on elected councillors to promote equality and avoid bias and the placing of the crucifix on the wall is making the State promote a particular religious belief.
“If I placed a sign on the wall saying ‘There is no God’ Cllr Culloty would object,” said the spokesman who added that he plans to ask the Equality Aurhotity to investigate if it is in breach of equality legislation.
Cllr Culloty said many people are insulted when religious symbols like crucifixes are removed from the walls of public buildings.
It is almost reaching a stage where people are having to apologise for their religion and change is needed to rectify the situation, he maintained.
“It’s part of my religion and the religion of the majority of people in this country. Four million people here are of Christian faith.,” he said.
Cllr Culloty said when catholics do anything to promote their faith it is deemed to be controversial but that doesn’t mean that they should be reluctant to express their views.
“We’re almost coming to a stage where we are apologising for it,” he said.
“A lot of things in this country go from one extreme to the other and we have gone too far the other way.”
There was uproar in Killarney four years ago when a statue of the sacred heart, which had been in place over the main entrance to the local community hospital for decades, was removed by the HSE.
