The debate on religion v atheism forgets the existence of the humanist movement and belief system. There is not necessarily a vacuum therefore. It is possible to be respectful of human life and spiritual without believing or needing to believe in a god of any kind.

It is also possible to be a secular country whilst predominantly catholic, .ie France however their particular crimes ie blowing up the Rainbow Warrior and illegally packing off Romanian EU residents don't make them particularly good examples.

The argument about fast becoming an atheist country is improbable as I would hazard a guess that most non believers would probably say they were agnostic not atheist. The argument about our fast moving towards euthanasia is however plainly ridiculous.

Finally when we are talking about the humanity of religion and religious institutions let us not forget that how much the Vatican did to prevent or stem the mass slaughter of Jews, gypsies, gay people, communists and anyone else who took the Nazis fancy; Sweet FA. Most wars and strife in the past and modern world take and have taken place under the cloak of one religion or other.