Rome Rule

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‘Rome Rule’ is a term used by Northern Ireland Unionists (as a sarcastic reference to Home Rule) to describe a fear that the Roman Catholic Church would gain political control over them in the event of a United Ireland. The term first came into use during the debate on First Irish Home Rule Bill in 1886 and continues (with declining vehemence) to this day.

In the early years of the Irish Free State/Ireland (Éire) and the Republic of Ireland, it certainly seemed that those fears were well-founded. Although Éamon de Valera proved less malleable than expected, the laws and mores of the newly independent state clearly reflected the fact that the very large majority of the population were Roman Catholic. The most evident example of Church involvement in matters of state came with the Mother and Child Scheme in 1950. The civil enforcement of Ne Temere agreements appeared to confirm the position.^[1] The seeming end of ‘Rome Rule’ in the Republic began the 1990s when the passage of an anti-abortion law was denied following a constitutional referendum, against the wishes of the Catholic Church, along with the introduction of divorce in that country.

However, despite the apparent lessening of its power, the Roman Catholic Church still maintains a strong base on the island, maintaining control over faith schools and hospitals on both sides of the border. Additionally, both directly and indirectly through its members, it has significant influence in universities and ethics committees, North and South. In this context, it is relevant to note that religious observance by all Christian denominations is very high in Ireland, particularly so in Northern Ireland where it is the highest in Europe.

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1. ^ For example in the Tilson v. Tilson judgement where Judge Gavan Duffy said "In my opinion, an order of the court designed to secure the fulfilment of an agreement peremptorily required before a mixed marriage by the Church, whose special position in Ireland is officially recognised as the guardian of the faith of the Catholic spouse, cannot be withheld on any ground of public policy by the very State which pays homage to that Church." Irish Law Times Report LXXXVI 1952, pages 49-73