What Can Save the Catholic Church in Ireland? Not the Pope


Many factors have led to the dramatic decline of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Ireland is an interesting case to study because it has so firmly been under the thumb of the Catholic Church Popes have not wanted to waste their time visiting there. This is only the second visit of a sitting Pope in history.

Popes often visit to build membership where they see trouble. Francis is visiting Ireland. The question is can he reverse the breath taking decline in numbers claiming to be Catholic and attending church?

The Catholic church still provides most of the elementary education in Ireland. That will not change rapidly. Experience has shown, however, indoctrination of children does not necessarily lead to adults who follow in the faith.

Ireland has changed rapidly from a society steeped in Catholicism to one that is pushing aggressively into the tech world and embracing secularism. It recently stunned the world by passing a measure making abortion legal. Christianity now polls as a minority in much of Europe and Ireland seems headed that way.

Pope's criss cross the globe trying to hold on to the power they have enjoyed. So far as I know they neither add to their numbers nor cause them to fall. The trips help keep their names in the news and that, I suppose, helps people remember they exist.

My guess is that after the Pope is gone Ireland will continue its march toward secularism.

Comments

  1. GrandmaAugust 24, 2018 at 3:02 PM

    It’s about time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jon LindgrenAugust 25, 2018 at 12:58 PM

    Thanks, Grandma. The Pope and his church define the word "dilemma." They have a problem that required structural and theological change. Unmarried clergy and lack of lay power over the clergy means structural and theological change are required. On the other hand, there is not a way forward to do this. So, the Pope just keeps apologizing when apologizing is not a solution.

    ReplyDelete

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