"Irish Rupture With Vatican Sets Off a Transformation" by Sarah Lyall/New York Times/Follow Gospel and Conscience

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/world/europe/ireland-recalibrates-ties-to-roman-catholic-church.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY

DUBLIN — "Even as it remains preoccupied with its struggling economy, Ireland is in the midst of a profound transformation, as rapid as it is revolutionary: it is recalibrating its relationship to the Roman Catholic Church, an institution that has permeated almost every aspect of life here for generations. This is still a country where abortion is against the law, where divorce became legal only in 1995, where the church runs more than 90 percent of the primary schools and where 87 percent of the population identifies itself as Catholic. But the awe, respect and fear the Vatican once commanded have given way to something new — rage, disgust and defiance — after a long series of horrific revelations about decades of abuse of children entrusted to the church’s care by a reverential populace. While similar disclosures have tarnished the Vatican’s image in other countries, perhaps nowhere have they shaken a whole society so thoroughly or so intensely as in Ireland. And so when the normally mild-mannered prime minister, Enda Kenny, unexpectedly took the floor in Parliament this summer to criticize the church, he was giving voice not just to his own pent-up feelings, but to those of a nation. His remarks were a ringing declaration of the supremacy of state over church, in words of outrage and indignation that had never before been used publicly by an Irish leader. "
“For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposed an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry into a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago,” Mr. Kenny said, referring to the Cloyne Report, which detailed abuse and cover-ups by church officials in southern Ireland through 2009.
Reiterating the report’s claim that the church had encouraged bishops to ignore child-protection guidelines the bishops themselves had adopted, the prime minister attacked “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism” that he said “dominate the culture of the Vatican...”
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Ireland has had enough of the Vatican's global sexual abuse cover-up. The Vatican instructed its bishops to ignore their own guidelines and violate Irish law. The Irish are "putting their foot down" as my mother Bridie often said when action was called for in a terrible situation. They are adopting major structural changes to protect children that may result in a loss of power and prestige for the institutional church in Irish society.
Perhaps, the "good" that we see happening is a "wake up call" for Catholics who love their church everywhere. The Vatican's "dysfunction, disconnection and elitism" is apparent and now we must put our foot down and take action. In Ireland, the good news is that the state has decided to do so!
Let us hope other nations follow Ireland's example and hold the Vatican accountable too.
It is time for revolutionary change to renew and transform our beloved church.
Women in decision making roles in the church as well as in a renewed priestly ministry is part of the change needed. Now in grassroots, inclusive communities, we must shape a more open, participatory, empowered community centered church that is no longer dominated by the hierarchy and the elitism of clericalism.
Our first priority should be following Jesus in the Gospels, not the pope or Vatican, when their rules violate our consciences. The Ireland of the fifties, where our family lived, and where the crack of a crozier instilled fear in the hearts of the people, is long gone! Thanks be to God! It is a proud day that the Emerald Isle is leading the way to a renewed Catholic Church!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests