What happened with Ireland?

[Sarcelle]

A lot of people were probably on the fence but finally got an excuse to drop out when the scandals broke out.

For the people who already dropped out of Catholic life, this was just another excuse to continue on the same path.

 

[Brendan_64]

A lot of people were probably on the fence but finally got an excuse to drop out when the scandals broke out.

For the people who already dropped out of Catholic life, this was just another excuse to continue on the same path.

You make a good point.

 

[Brendan_64]

I also think that in Ireland there was also a kind of politicisation of what it meant to be a Catholic, where to be an Irish Catholic meant to identify also as an Irish nationalist. I think the whole political, national and tribal identity got bound up with religious identity to the point that someone could end up identifying as a Catholic yet not believe in what the Church teaches or go to Mass on Sunday.

 

[CTBcin]

I mean, Ireland was a symbol of Catholic piety and faithfulness, a really proud beacon of our faith and what it has become? Abortion, same-sex marriage… It seems like Ireland turned completely their back to Our Lord, Jesus Christ. How the situation reach this level and does the Ireland clergy has no shame to allow such a disaster under their watch?

Here’s my very un-expert view of things:

Modernism and relativism started to enter the fray, as it has in other places around the world.

Then the clergy sex abuse scandal hit Ireland, probably worse than anywhere else. Combined with the fact that the Church was closely woven into public life and a deeply trusted institution, the scandal was made all the worse. This means that the reaction against the Church would be much stronger.

This has lead to a demoralized clergy and few vocations, making the situation all the worse.

I’m sure it’s more complicated than that, but I’m willing to bet these are major factors. In a matter of decades, Ireland has gone from one of the most Catholic countries in the world to mission territory. It’s quite sad really.