Dublin Archbishop tells lapsed Catholics to leave the Catholic Church

As a Trad Catholic (in Australia)I fully agree with Archbishop Martin. Ireland is blessed to have such a strong, brave warrior at the helm. The Church is growing in many places around the world with thousands of educated young people finding the treasure of the faith which so many of you Irish are thrashing. Well folks, remember the mob who spat on Jesus as he carried His cross to Calvary? You are right there in their midst. It is hard to understand how rude- even dirty- language spills from so many of you. You do not sound intelligent Just snotty nosed and hate filled. The old hackney of 'sex abuse' (which tragically abounds through every walk of life) being your excuse for your bad behaviour, is no reason for you to throw away the Faith unless you only went to Church for outward appearances. How shallow! The True Faith comes from your heart and mind to God. It saddens me to see so many at weddings in Ireland coolly walk up to receive the Body of Christ in Holy Communion when they do not darken the door of the church normally. I admit many had a sheepish look about their faces. Just embarrassed and afraid of what others might think if they stayed in their seat. Doesn't matter what God thinks? Good on you Archbishop Martin and God bless you and all the faithful priests who have to put up with such abuse in Ireland. May God protect you from the mob. As we see the modern trends eliminated from the Mass and the reverend celebrations returning, the peace of the Holy Sacrifice will bear fruit once again. Some of you haters might even find your way back. How welcoming Jesus will be then.

In the home of the R C Church, Italy,the people only go to Church at Easter and Christmas. The Archbishop is only trying to gain the control and power returned to the Church which was lost with recent events. Ignore him and enjoy the freedom which our forfathers did not have. Twice a year Church is plenty.

The so called "Celtic" Church was a bit of a myth captainCon as most of the experts in the early period of Irish Christianity will tell you. It was the fabricated product of some protestant divines after the reformation to make it look like their movement was a continuation of the Christianity which was thriving in these Islands in the early period. There was no schism with Rome during this time as there was only one universal Church. The so-called differences were a matter of custom, different datings for Easter and religious hairstyles which the great Synod of Whitby did much to sort out in 664 AD. The Indigenous Christians of these Islands and Rome believed in the same core Christian beliefs and doctrines and Marian devotion was strong in the Irish Church. Famous Irish Missals of the early Christian centuries like the Stowe example from the 8th century reveal that the local Church followed an order of Mass very similar to that celebrated on the Continent.

"but Martin says the church will expect a far fuller commitment in the future" And so will the laity my Lord Bishop, so too will the LaITY!!!!!

The Catholic Church taught me only priests and deacons could touch a consecrated host with their hands and only males could become a priest or deacon; Latin was the language of the Mass; the Holy Days of Obligation were still holy whether the fell on a Saturday, Monday, or any other weekday; no meat was to be eaten on Fridays any time of the year; plus other things which resulted in a MORTAL SIN. Now all these teachings are archaic and fallen to the wayside. I have not given up my Catholic Faith, only the modern Catholic Church. With the loss of the lessons of my childhood, the Catholic Church as left me!

Martin should learn the difference between lapsed and disaffected. Maybe I go to the weddings and baptisms to participate in family events. These bullies suggest that the only two choices are Catholicism and Atheism. Laughable. Bring back the Celtic church! Enough of these threats from Roman lackeys.

sirpeter: "Parents/People don't get much of a choice when it comes to church rituals.They are forced into and forced to go to these church rituals". More stupidity from The Biggest Dope in Ireland. No one is forced to have their children baptized, you stupid ape. You're an imbecile. A stupid bigot and racist, too, but I guess everyone knows that. R

Interesting point raised there about the difference between the Roman Catholic Church and the 'Celtic' Catholic Church which were and are two very different beasts. As I understand it the RCC effectively took over the Irish Church around the eleventh century and ran it direct from Rome when the Irish Church showed a steady refusal to adapt to the new rules about priests not marrying and the consequent implications for property in heritance and so on. It does make you think although not a christian myself that the return of the Irish church would be a good thing and like much of Irish culture the presence of that church is buried somewhere under adopted or forced culture and hidden beneath layers of foreign compulsion much like our prechristian heritage. It annoys the hell out of me to hear Roman Catholics speak of their church as 'part of Irish tradition'- only if you are in the habit of regarding the Black and Tans as part of 'Irish tradition' as well. To hell with corrupt Rome if you'll excuse the temporary christian pun.

Parents/People don't get much of a choice when it comes to church rituals.They are forced into and forced to go to these church rituals.Baptism,Holy Communion,Confirmation, Marriage and Funerals all involve other people.Attending Mass is individual.It's easier to get out of going.The last Marriage ritual I was at a few weeks ago cost me and my wife close to a €1000 and we didn't even want to be there.It wasn't that weren't mature enough to walk away.We just didn't have a good enough excuse not to go.

Not a Good time for the Catholic Church to get picky ,when people are leaving the church. The church has no one to blame but the church . they are the one who is Guilty of Sin & has stuck its head in the sand.hoping things would correct it self. they still don't get it ! the only thing the Vatican cares about is How much Money can we take in. Money is their God ! Wake up Catholics we have been snookered too long time for a complete church overhaul starting from the Top Fat Cows in the Vatican.

'Stone age conservatives ally themselves with corrupt authority figures' shocker. I see this thread has lured out some of those who would be better off living in the hills of Pakistan with the Taliban with whom they have much in common.

I wish that all were so simple. I'd like to know why the Celtic Church shouldn't resurface and replace the Roman Church. I'd like to know why all the malecentricity and celibacy and the hypocricy over homosexuality. I'd like to see the guid Father speak about spiritual practice outside of the brief weekly worship setting. I certainly hope that it's the author's misstake, and nae the guid father's, which confuses spirituality with "rituals".

Its not all bad news folks as aperantely all new catholic churchs are to be constructed round in shape. Finally no where for the horny priests or bishops to corner the alter boys.

When Christ returns, the non believers will probably say ---WOW - I really screwed up !! This younger generation is really screwed up anyway !!

Oh dear - this sounds for all the world like an admission of at least partial defeat. I had hoped that Archbishop Martin was one Cleric who DID walk "In the shoes of the Fisherman" but to hear him say this is so depressing. A half loaf better than no bread??