Time for Ireland to reunite

Re Ireland is a Brexit wild card, Opinion Aug. 21 It may very well be a suitable time for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to unite now that they are in agreement to remain in the European Union.

There is thankfully no longer a complete ban on divorce in the Republic of Ireland and fairness was also shown by Catholics in a 1972 referendum where they amended the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland’s Article 44, “The State recognizes the special position of the Holy Catholic Apostolic and Roman church as the guardian of the Faith professed by the great majority of the citizens,” to now making all religions equal in status.

But what I would also suggest is for both countries to put an end to their publicly funded segregated, sectarian school systems (Catholic and Protestant), which have been the cause of the longtime distrust and prejudice toward persons of the other religious persuasion.

It might also be worthwhile for Protestants in Northern Ireland to consider putting an end to the allegiance to the British monarchy, which does not permit the king or queen to marry a Catholic or convert to Catholicism. Doing so, he or she would have to abdicate the throne.

This unquestionably provokes the Irish Catholics into their contempt for the British.

John Clubine, Etobicoke