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About the Iona Institute

The Iona Institute promotes the place of marriage and religion in society. We defend the continued existence of publicly-funded denominational schools. We also promote freedom of conscience and religion.

The Iona Institute is headed by religious and social affairs commentator, David Quinn.

The Family; social construction or natural phenomenon?

Professor Brenda Almond examines the ideas undermining the belief that the biological family is of special importance.

Latest News

Equality curtailing religious freedom says leading philosopher

Religious freedom is being trumped by equality in British courts, according to a leading philosopher. Professor Roger Trigg (pictured) of Kellogg College, Oxford, said that judges increasingly “curtail” the religious views of people in favour of other “social priorities”. Professor Trigg spoke at a conference on religious freedom organised by The Iona Institute in 2010.
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Cardinal Brady defends enrolment policies of faith-based schools

The Catholic Church “is committed to providing Catholic Schools to cater for the needs of parents who wish to exercise their constitutional right to the provision of faith education,” Archbishop Sean Cardinal Brady (pictured), the Catholic primate of All Ireland, has said. Speaking yesterday at Saint Mary’s College, Dundalk at the launch of Catholic Schools Week, Cardinal Brady said that the Church “holds the view that the children of Catholic parents have first claim on admission to Catholic schools”.
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The Iona Blog

A Supreme Court judge explains why the Constitution defends marriage

Last month saw a potentially very significant ruling by the Supreme Court on adoption, Nottinghamshire County Council v B, but in the course of the ruling Justice Donal O’Donnell gave a justification for the Constitutional position on marriage which is well worth noting. Most importantly, his justification puts children at the centre of marriage, not adults.
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Recent and Upcoming Events

Dec

Renewing the Church: A talk by George Weigel

George Weigel, author of the best-selling and most authoritative biography of Pope John Paul II, ‘Witness to Hope’, and one of America’s leading public intellectuals, addressed The Iona Institute on the topic ‘Renewing the Church’.

Oct

Marriage and the Common Good

Our next speaker will be Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who will address the topic, 'Marriage and the Common Good'. The event will take place at 8pm on Tuesday, October 25, in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin 2.

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