Liberal Irish Church in Deep Troubles

Depression is “very common” among Irish priests according to a summary presented at a meeting of the Modernist Association of Catholic Priests in Athlone, Ireland. Concerns were also expressed about the number of priests committing suicide. The Irish Church has gone very liberal.

According to the Irish Times (November 8) Redemptorist Fr Gerry O’Connor said that there was “no tangible Church vision for the future” while priests “have enormous grief about disappearing faith communities.”

The relationship between bishops and priests had become “damaged and soured” with some priests feeling “bullied.” A major concern of priests was how the bishops treated those falsely accused of abuses.

Fr Tim Hazelwood, a victim of false accusations, said there was “no consistency” in how accused priests are treated: “Priests’ statutory rights are being denied”, he said. It was also “unjust that a priest is asked to stand down on the basis of an anonymous accusation.”

Picture: © William Murphy, CC BY-SA, #newsYuflcbuqav

LikeShare

Uncle Joe

Nov 14, 2017

But, the Irish faithful, and many of the rank and file priests remain, solid.
I suppose that would depend on how one defines “solid” and "many."

Currently (2016) the percentage of the Irish population that is Catholic is measured at 78%. In 1981 the number was 91%.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The once unquestioning reverence for the clergy which was a feature of Irish life has been permanently undermined by a series of scandals which emerged over the last 20 years or so.

From now seemingly tame revelations about a well known bishop revealed to be a father, the scandals seem never ending and became ever more horrific – financial impropriety, extreme physical and mental punishment, sexual abuse of children, the virtual slave labour endured by “fallen women” in Magdelen laundries, the brutal treatment of unmarried mothers and their children, illegal adoptions… it goes on and on.

The strenuous efforts made in the wake of these revelations, by the church in general and by individual religious orders, to protect their financial position in the face of a slew of court cases did little to improve their standing. They have almost certainly been a major factor in the reduction in church attendance figures.

Probably the biggest trend in religious affiliation is a move away from Catholicism and a rise in people stating they are of no religion, which is more obvious when shown as a percentage of population.

Uncle Joe

Nov 14, 2017

"Upon what basis is the Irish Church judged liberal?"
LOLOL

The basis may have a little something to do with the squishy archbishop of Dublin.
After the gay marriage vote permitting homosexual marriage in 2015, Diarmuid Martin, the archbishop of Dublin said:

We [the Church] have to stop and have a reality check, not move into denial of the realities. We won't begin again with a sense of renewal, with a sense of denial. I appreciate how gay and lesbian men and women feel on this day. That they feel this is something that is enriching the way they live. I think it is a social revolution.
-----------------------------
The above is an indefensible comment for any faithful Catholic particularly an "archbishop" and is certainly a liberal/leftist viewpoint.

Francesco I

Nov 14, 2017

Catholic Monks of Papa Stronsay, Scotland

BrTomFordeOFMCap

Nov 14, 2017

Upon what basis is the Irish Church judged liberal?