A Nation Omitting God? Proposed Amendment Would Erase God from Judge’s Oath

28.03.2025

A new proposal before the Dáil could result in the removal of both religious and gendered language from the oath taken by judges in Ireland — a move that is raising concern among people of faith.

The Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judicial Oath of Office) Bill 2025, introduced by Fine Gael TD and senior counsel Barry Ward, seeks to alter the long-standing oath sworn by members of the judiciary. Under the current form, judges pledge to uphold their duties “in the presence of Almighty God” and commit to serving “without fear or favour…towards any man.” The bill proposes to remove all references to God and replace the word “man” with the more generic “person.”

Deputy Ward has argued that the change reflects what he calls a more inclusive and modern Ireland, stating that requiring individuals with no belief in God to swear such an oath is “unfair” and potentially meaningless to them. While he insisted that he is not opposed to religion, he claimed that the current oath may feel hollow for those who do not share the religious conviction it implies.

The bill has not been opposed by the government and is expected to move forward to the next stage. However, since it involves a constitutional change, a public referendum would be required for it to be enacted.

For many Christians and people of faith, this move raises deeper questions: Are we slowly stripping away the spiritual foundations that have long shaped Irish public life? The judicial oath has historically been not just a legal formality, but a solemn promise made before God — grounding justice in a higher moral authority. Removing God from this moment of national accountability may reflect a growing trend to privatise Ireland’s Christian heritage and remove it from the public square.

While inclusion and fairness are important, we must not lose sight of the spiritual heritage and moral compass that have long guided our institutions.