The concept of a Protestant State for a Protestant people has 'evaporated', one expert said. But another pointed to the rise of the non-religious as the 'dominant narrative'.
The Peace bridge in Derry. Image: Shutterstock/Irina Wilhauk The Peace bridge in Derry. Image: Shutterstock/Irina Wilhauk IN A HISTORICAL context, Catholics outnumbering Protestants is the “most important” finding in the latest Northern Ireland Census, which was released this morning.
The non-religious grouping is now second only to the Catholic population , outnumbering all Protestant denominations.Tonge says Catholics outnumbering protestants is the ‘most symbolic’ figure in the census. “We’ve gone from that, to a two to one Protestant majority, to Catholics now out-numbering Protestants. The sectarian headcount that made up Northern Ireland has now gone,” said Tonge.
While Tonge expects the gap between the Catholic and Protestant population to increase further, he adds that the number of those identifying as having ‘no religion’ will also continue to grow. “That planning and dialogue and engagement needs to happen now, and it must include people from all backgrounds and communities.”
“But there’s still plenty of agnostics or atheists out there who still need persuading of the merits of a United Ireland to get nationalists and Republicans over the line in terms of what they want.” He added: “This has now gone through the courts, and it’s been shown that it’s in breach of human rights, so we’re waiting for a final order to come on what should happen there.”
“So at the minute, it’s not plural, it’s not broad, it’s not inclusive. It’s basically a Christian curriculum. Sleator argued that this growth in the non-religious grouping should be the “dominant narrative and the biggest talking point”. However, Tongue says many people from Protestant and British backgrounds now hold an Irish passport out of mere convenience.
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