Ireland has come a long way since " Portrait of the Artist "

Ireland has come a long way since James Joyce wrote " Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man ". Smothered by all too Catholic Ireland, the poet hero dedicates himself to " forging the conscience of his race ".
To be sure, Ireland should not be Catholic anymore than Israel should be Jewish. But should the state-even here in America -have a right to veto religious belief, to assault the spiritual honor of people of any faith ?
Here separation of Church and State has evolved into hostility between the two. Can godless patriotism replace religious principles in a class divided society. Working class soldiers might still be willing to die for God and Country. But will they sacrifice their lives for capitalism and Ayn Rand's " Virtue of Selfishness " -so dear to Republicans ?
Reflect on the words of the Russian novelist Dostoevsky : " If God does not exist, then everything is permitted ". Did not this thought inspire The Terror of the Great French Revolution of 1789 ?
And what will restrain the Irish Republican Army-if not the social conscience of Catholicism ?
Gay rights are just incidental to class struggle.