Fall of the Catholic Church

There is no denying that the RCC is certainly seen a major fall in Ireland over the last 30 to 40 years. Looking back at the pre EEC times, it is now almost impossible to understand the power and control that the RCC had over the state. But since then (it isn't simply because of the move to EEC but ties in rather neatly) things have changed to such an extent that children growing up now have little to no understanding of just how much interference the RCC had.

They basically controlled every aspect of a persons life. Education, healthcare, marriage, career, hell even to the point that upon their direction one couldn't buy a drink on certain days in the year!

Luckily all that nonsense is now got rid off, and the country has moved on. Church doesn't make up any significant part of most young peoples lives.

So there is no argument about the fall of the church, the only argument can be about how far the fall will continue. It will be interesting to watch over the next 20 years or so how the smaller parishes cope. With the inevitable dying off of the older parishioners, will the need, or the resources, be there to continue to administer masses and sacriments in each church or will we will a consolidation of services? I think we have already seen some consolidation, with some priests having to administer to a number of parishes, but will the church continue to operate churches when have continuing falling numbers? Will repairs and maintenance be undertaken, some times at significant costs.

Once example from 2018

New Bishop of Galway certainly sees it

With the growing population, one would expect new churches to be opening up, but it is the opposite. As pointed out in earlier posts, baptisms, RCC marriages or both falling. There seems little the RCC can do to reverse this trend and as such there seems little reason to think that the current decline will not continue and probably accelerate.

I very much doubt the RCC will disappear, there is enough infrastructure in place to ensure it is always going to be central and the RCC as a whole does have the resources to continue to support it for many many years. But it place as an important part of the lives of people will continue to diminish, certainly its place as a central role.

Yes, it will change, as the whole world is changing, in every sense of the world, and the Church is changing too. There is now an ongoing program to train lay people as deacons, men and women to take much of the load off the Priests. Lay people handing out Holy Communion, which was once thought unthinkable, is now common accepted practice, and has been for quite awhile. So that's one step, The local Parish Councils, are run by lay members and its been like that for many years now too. Its been 22 years now since the Sunday ban on drinking hours was abolished, but these laws were originally introduced by the British during the 1st world war, and not by the Church. And of the much mentioned Church interference in Irish Life which the Church did wield in the past, is just a myth in this day and age. But the bottom line is that Christianity in Ireland will survive.

 And of the much mentioned Church interference in Irish Life which the Church did wield in the past, is just a myth in this day and age.

Not sure what you mean by this. It is certainly not a myth. It is no longer the case, that is true, but the church held a very powerful role in the past in Ireland.

On the issue of lay people taking on more of a role, again this is being forced onto the church as the number of priests continue to drop. But it is a short term solution. Inevitably, the number of lay people will also continue to drop. But what it also does is lesson the role of the priest. Once the church relied entirely on the priest, he was seen as someone special. Now, well they are just another person that doesn't really need to be there.

Firstly, it wasn't a blatant 100% attack, and you know it. Not everything is. We're allowed to criticise.

Seondly, you're justifying the trolling here rather than denying it. To deny it, you need to point out where I made a blatant 100% attack that went beyond criticism and you need to point out the references to the posts I made in the posts I quoted above.

I work with young people and I have great confidence in their ability to see things for what they really are. Even though many are brought up as Catholics, they don't have the same baggage and the Age of Information answers many of their questions/doubts. There will be very few church goers in the traditional sense in 2 generations. And I don't see the young people of today telling as many "white lies" to their children in order to validate the religious sacraments they might need to engage in. Now Santa, Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Bogeyman are a different kettle of fish!

Are you deliberately thick or do you not understand this is the Fall of the Catholic Church thread. Prince Andrew and Epstein discussions can happen elsewhere? Feel free to start one - paedophilia endorsed and supported by the RCC, as exemplified in the Fr. Naughton case, is very germane for discussion here.

Devout, ya know. Would fit right in with Fr. Naughty's townspeople. "none of these were representing Christ." Seriously? You can be damn sure Fr. Naughty was. In fact, every Sunday if I remember how the whole spiel goes.

Seems like the post has disappeared - guessing Beasty had a quiet word with him.

It's a failing of Irish law that they're not compelled, unlike in the US where they're (now, finally) mandatory reporters and the US council of bishops agreed too, if I remember the facts right. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/ is a fascinating site. Too bad there isn't the equivalent in Ireland.

Supreme Court was packed with catholic conservatives. It's not hard to understand.

Being honest I have always felt that because the church has never proactively sought to expose/convict known child abusers (and bishops that cover them up!), the people that darken the doors of their organisation are in a small way condoning the abuse, the cover-ups, the blind eyes, the secrecy etc. The 'few bad eggs' excuse/validation is beyond sickening and completely two faced. The lack of internal agitation against the known culture of abuse/cover-up both by the clergy and the 'faithful' has always astounded me. It's alien to me. I couldn't even imagine the lack of action in any other organisation. The most proactive thing the church ever do is issue a bland statement of apology after the fact/conviction. Again I ask have the church come clean on the abusers past and present? Are there paedophile priests out there today that are known to church authorities but are provided with silent protection? Highly likely.

By appointing deacons, it will reduce the load on the Priests, and while that might seem like lessening the role of the Priest to some, it will not affect committed Catholics. They will understand, and indeed welcome more participation by lay people. As to what will happen down the road, that's in the hands of God, or as Muslims say, " Ins'h Allah".

The correct term under the circumstances is actually " Alhamdulillah or Hamdulillah in short". Its a word I 'v e used often in work. But feel free to use it if you like.

That was the Christian Right in the US generally and they've been trying to get it repealed ever since it was first tried.