The religiosity of Connolly and Larkin (2)

Part of a series of articles on Connolly: workersliberty.org/connolly

In 1898 James Connolly wrote against “linking the [Irish] national demands with a specific religious belief” and insisted that Protestant workers were “as dear to” socialists as Catholic (Solidarity 629).

Yet in other phases of his politics Connolly identified, in his political writings, as Catholic. Sometimes he would argue that politics and religion were completely separate spheres. Sometimes he would suggest that Catholicism was at least more conducive to socialism than atheism could be. In one private letter (30 January 1908) he said his Catholicism was only a pose.

Then the Irish Worker of Connolly and Larkin in 1911-4 always had a Catholic tinge, and more so when Connolly edited it while Larkin was in jail. This week’s extracts round out the picture of Connolly on religion.

Sean Matgamna

Socialism and religion

Catholicism and socialism

Only posing?

In reference to the question you ask about [an encyclical from the Pope about] Modernism. Theoretically it was not ex cathedra, therefore was not binding. For myself tho’ I have usually posed as a Catholic I have not gone to my duty for 15 years, and have not the slightest tincture of faith left. I only assumed the Catholic pose in order to query the raw freethinker whose ridiculous dogmatism did and does annoy me as much as the dogmatism of the Orthodox. In fact I respect the good Catholic more than the average freethinker.

• Letter to John Carstairs Matheson, 30 January 1908