My Response: I agree with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin that the church's stance on women alienates the people of Ireland. I look forward to ordaining women priests in Ireland. The first women, who take this courageous step, will be a sign of hope that a new day is dawning in which women lead the way toward a more inclusive church in which all can feel at home. Colm Holmes' comment on Archbishop Martin's statement that there will be "new forms of priestly presence" sounds like what is happening in the United States , Canada, Latin America in our women priests' led inclusive communities. Very interesting, that he is predicting this for the future of Ireland!
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
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| Mary Theresa Streck and I co-presided at a Catholic Liturgy in Dublin, Aug. 6, 2017 |
The low standing of women in the Catholic Church is the most significant reason for the feeling of alienation towards it in Ireland today, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
“Next would be the ongoing effect of the scandals of child sexual abuse,” he said in an address on Thursday.
“I believe, in particular, that people have underestimated the effect of the scandals on young people.”
He added that young people’s “disgust at what happened is deep-rooted”.
Dr Martin said one of the most disappointing documents that he had read since becoming archbishop concerned a recent survey of young people in Dublin, conducted in preparation for the Synod of Bishops on Young People in Rome next year.
“Young people felt unwelcome in parishes,” he said of the survey’s results.
This reflected “on our system of faith education, which is overly school-centred” and “does not bring young people into better communication with the parish”.
Looking at the current Government, he said he was struck by “the fact that there are more members of the current Cabinet under 45 than there are of priests of that age in the [Dublin] diocese. The same applies to leadership cadres in many other sectors of society”.
He said 57 per cent of priests in the Dublin archdiocese were aged over 60 and this was projected to rise to 75 per cent by 2030.
He said that leadership in “many aspects of our culture belongs to one generation and leadership and the mainstream membership of the church belongs to another”.
“How do you bridge that gap?” he asked.
Dr Martin said he was “happy to see a new generation of young politicians who are inspired by a politics of changing Irish society for the good rather than just fixing problems”.
However, the archbishop said some people might interpret what he was saying as that he was “happy to see politicians who support same-sex unions or wider access to abortion”.
Dear WAC Ireland Members & Friends,
Advent greetings!
I have just been reading Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's talk in St. Mary's Haddington Road (16 November 2017) about the Church in Ireland in 10 years time. He states: "Probably the most significant negative factor that influences attitudes to the Church in today's Ireland is the place of women in the Church." And he goes on to say we will see "new forms of priestly presence within faith communities in the changing future of Ireland." Now that's as close as our Archbishop has come to an endorsement for opening all ministries to women!
Colm Holmes
Core Group Member
colmholmes2020@gmail.com
Dear WAC Ireland Members & Friends,
Advent greetings!
I have just been reading Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's talk in St. Mary's Haddington Road (16 November 2017) about the Church in Ireland in 10 years time. He states: "Probably the most significant negative factor that influences attitudes to the Church in today's Ireland is the place of women in the Church." And he goes on to say we will see "new forms of priestly presence within faith communities in the changing future of Ireland." Now that's as close as our Archbishop has come to an endorsement for opening all ministries to women!
Colm Holmes
Core Group Member
colmholmes2020@gmail.com
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