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Home Page > News > Pope told Irish church is ‘on the edge of collapse’

Pope told Irish church is ‘on the edge of collapse’

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 7:33 AM

Updated Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 7:33 AM

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42 Comments

The Irish Catholic Church is on the verge of national collapse, the Pope will be told in a confidential new church report.

The report warns that if the church does not give laymen and women a greater say in decision-making its possible that in five to ten years it will lose its relevancy in Irish life.

The dire warning will be submitted to Pope Benedict XVI by an international investigator tasked with examining the state of the Irish church in the wake of the Murphy and Ryan reports into child abuse by clerics.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, sounded the alarm recently when addressing the annual meeting of The People of God, a lay reform group.

O'Malley told the association that the Irish church had a decade at most to avoid falling over the edge and "becoming like other European countries" where religion is marginal to the society.

Meanwhile the Association of Catholic Priests says it's ready to campaign for radical change, but it is apprehensive that this would be viewed as what it called "a new clericalism."

The association's stated preference was for lay groups to come forward and give voice to the aspirations of the majority of Catholics for change.

Nster.com

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42 Comments

15 - 42 | See all comments

KatieMurphy | Apr 06, 2012, 03:11 PM EDT

Someone said the pope is like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned...............Sorry but thats hardly correct - its much WORSE.................You can find with google how the pope actively hid the molestation of our children..........You can find how the pope UNexcommunicated Bishop Williamson, a holocaust denier.......You can find how the vatican bank was involved in multiple scandals, some of which seem to include laundering money for the mafioso..............And dont expect any change............The pope has effectively run the church for 20 years while JPII traveled. Benedict has filled the curia and I bet also the cardinals with like minded people who want to go back to the dark ages..........Time to leave the church once and for all. Find a Christian church that practices Jesus 2nd commandment to love thy neighbor as thy self.

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KatieMurphy | Mar 27, 2012, 06:40 PM EDT

the sooner the better. I'm sure we can make room in our 'big houses" for the hierarchy that permitted and hid these horrible crimes........................ And for the Pope who in 2009 UNexcommunciated Bishop Williamson, a holocaust denier........................ (google "Pope UNexcommunicates holocaust denier" ) It sure seems to almost all of our extended family that membership in the catholic church is the super-highway to purgatory or hell.

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ronnie4u2o | Mar 10, 2011, 02:28 AM EST

Pope coming to Ireland ? What for ? the Church of Rome ia already Doomed its over 20 yrs too late for the church.Most of the churches are empty of teens and young adults. you find Old ladies alone without their Husbands.they young people of today are too Educated to fall for all the BS the Church spews.all the cover ups of the sins of the church and its Bishops & Priests. I say Hit the Vatican in the Pocketbook Give them nothing. until they change their ways and repent. Its the RCC that has lost its way not the people.

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STUMPTOWN | Mar 07, 2011, 12:40 PM EST

The next time your in RC church at a mass, note the percent of old vrs. the young, the females vrs the males, and ask a few of the young people why they are there as well as their views on the RCC as well as their friends views. The old will be gone before you know it and if the RCC does not change for the young, they will vote with their feet. I bet BEN16 would be upset of what RC members knew and or thought of what teachings of the RCC that the members did know. Ben16 blew it by not to have Brady retire and make the one that never SILENCE THE TRUTH TO PROTECT THE IMAGE as the cardinal of Ireland who was MARTIN of Dublin. The RCC must change for the young people of the world for time changes all and waits for no one.

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McNamara31 | Mar 07, 2011, 11:13 AM EST

Ulster1 "Our Irish Cathoic Church" goes back to long before 468 when Brigit of Kildare became the leader of a center of religious learning, and developed into a cathedral city. This women founded two monastic institutions, one for men, and the other for women, and appointed Saint Conleth "to govern the church along with herself". Thus, for centuries, Kildare was ruled by a double line of abbot-bishops and of abbesses, the Abbess of Kildare being regarded as superior general of the monasteries in Ireland. Looking back, it would have been better if Rome followed the Irish lead, rather than the road that brought us to where we are today.

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McNamara31 | Mar 07, 2011, 10:00 AM EST

Every time I read another article about the effects of the abuse and how the present day Vatican Management chose to handle it, I become so very sad and I think of my grandparents and their devout faith. This modern day Vatican Corporation in the last 25 years has ruined a once great church and faith that sustained generations. From Boston to Dublin one truth was evident this church was dragged kicking to do the "right thing" and now they find it is to late to undo the destruction "they" created. Like many I have seperated my faith from the corporate style leadership that I no longer respect. I am looking for a place where I can take the "good" from my Irish Catholic faith and live it where it is not controlled by a group of men who have lost there way. I also think about all the beautiful churches and schools that were built by the immigrants that are now closing aroud me and think of what this Vatican has done to their legacy and the future education of generations to come.

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barneyjo | Feb 18, 2011, 06:27 AM EST

Victimhood?? victims of what exactly?

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Prevailer | Feb 18, 2011, 06:16 AM EST

Pedophiles hidden by hyprocrisy is a mortal sin by any standards. The Church needs married vocations for the ministry of faith. Mary Magdalen was a leader and a follower. The Church needs to open its door to woman of faith. Example: Mother Theresa. We need fresh air.

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FallsRNat | Feb 18, 2011, 05:30 AM EST

youse guys are taking an awful chance getting rid of the catholic church, in the backwaters of the peoples republic who is going to remind you of your victimhood & the presence of the empire

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barneyjo | Feb 17, 2011, 04:12 PM EST

Personally speaking, I have long been of the view that the Catholic Church has further to fall, both in Ireland, and elsewhere for that matter. Simply put, there are still far too many senior Clergy across the Catholic world who, even now, still dont "GET IT"!!!; the "IT" being that the disappointed and disenchanted Faithful are no longer willing to give unualified allegiance nor indeed financial nor moral support to their church when it has shown itself to be the very anthesis of the message it has preached throughout its existence. I am still a practicing member of the Church, but from now on, I will apply the following yardstick to every and any issue of concern that arises; the question "Where is Christ in this?" For too long now, and in so many ways, I believe that Christ has not been present in the hearts and minds of many Clergy, at all levels, in the leadership of my church. And, to be frank, I do not see that changing dramatically, any time soon!!

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STUMPTOWN | Feb 16, 2011, 11:41 AM EST

Why did not BEN16 force BRADY into retirement and give the IRISH RED HAT to MARTIN of DUBLIN who was always truthful? That would of smooth things out greatly in Ireland. The sexual crimes against the children in Ireland and force some to take a oath of silence, what where they thinking of? The RC members that do not want to hear of it and look the other way are part of the problem just as the RCC administrators that silence the truth to protect the image. And they though moveable type was bad. I feel sorry for the good religious but not the abusers or the ones that cover up the crime. Why do you think the VATICAN is a nation?

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jamieLM | Feb 16, 2011, 10:29 AM EST

Maybe a more extensive psychological screening process of the applicants applying for the priesthood would help. The applicants should be made to understand in no uncertain terms - NO PEDOPHILES NEED APPLY! - and Ordination does NOT mean, "anything goes."

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southcountykelly | Feb 16, 2011, 07:33 AM EST

Add on...my comment regarding the fact that the catholic church allows priests from other religions to practice within the catholic church...exemplifies the underlying hypocracy that needs to be exposed.

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southcountykelly | Feb 16, 2011, 07:27 AM EST

My comment regarding the fact that the Catholic Church allows married priests from other religions to practice within the Catholic Church in the U.S., should have noted the sheer hypocricy of the institution.

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southcountykelly | Feb 16, 2011, 07:21 AM EST

Not surprising data. In the U.S. the Catholic Church is allowing married priests from other religions to practice within the Catholic Church. I do not think Jesus came down to establish canon law. I'm just amazed at how many catholics follow so blindly what the Catholic Church mandates on so many levels. Take a look at the Book of Revelation...the word, 'churches' is used, not the one true....

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