British comedian Stephen Fry nearly fell foul of the current law in 2015 | Jack Taylor/Getty Images Ireland tests progressive shift with blasphemy vote Country will decide Friday whether to make another constitutional change.

Irish voters will decide Friday whether to remove the offense of blasphemy from their constitution, in a referendum that will again test how far the country has moved from its traditional Catholic heritage.

The vote, which will be held on the same day as the republic's presidential election, follows referendums on gay marriage in 2015 and abortion in May this year in which progressive changes won overwhelming support.

Ireland's constitution, which was drawn up in 1937 when the Catholic church had a far stronger influence over the state, includes a clause banning sacrilegious speech or writing.

Voters in the referendum will be asked to choose whether to remove the word "blasphemous" from a clause in the constitution that reads: "The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law." Polls suggest that voters back a change to the law by two to one.

Charlie Flanagan, the minister for justice and equality, said Ireland respects religious diversity and freedom at home and around the world, but criticizing other countries is sometimes difficult because of the blasphemy clause.

“We believe that freedom of belief and expression are important values in a democratic society. Criminalising blasphemy is not consistent with these values," he said in a statement.

Michal Nugent of Atheist Ireland, who is also backing the change, called the current text "an outdated clause from the 1937 constitution that has no place in a modern democracy."

“Even the Catholic bishops agree it is obsolete. Every review of the constitution has recommended its removal.”

But traditionalists question the value of putting it to a public vote. Senator Ronan Mullen pointed out that the last time anyone was convicted of the offense was under a previous blasphemy law in 1855. He argued that it should remain on the statute book.

The case against Stephen Fry was eventually dropped but it spurred political efforts to have the clause removed from the constitution.

“It is outrageous for the government to waste taxpayers' money in this way, pandering only to the views of an elite minority in our society who are allergic to anything to do with God," Mullen said.

The British comedian Stephen Fry nearly fell foul of the current law in 2015 when he delivered a mini-diatribe against God on a chat show on state broadcaster RTÉ: "How dare you [God] create a world in which there is such misery? It’s not our fault? It’s not right. It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?"

Irish police launched an investigation and Fry faced a fine of up to €25,000. The high-profile case was eventually dropped but it spurred political efforts to have the clause removed from the constitution.

In the presidential election to be held on the same day as the referendum, six candidates are vying for the country's highest office. The incumbent Michael Higgins enjoys the support of 70 percent of voters and is expected to be easily returned for a second term.

Of the rest, Senator Joan Freeman is famous for setting up the mental health charity Pieta House while Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada represents Ireland South in the European Parliament.

Three of the candidates, Sean Gallagher, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy, have never held public office but have high profiles from appearing as investors on Irish TV's version of reality show “Dragon’s Den.”