Archbishop Martin calls for ‘language of engagement’ between Church and society

Staff Reporter

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has challenged the faithful to “find a language” in their faith towards engaging with the pluralist world and contributing Christian values to it.

Delivering a sermon at an ecumenical evensong in Christ Church Cathedral, Dr Martin considered the question of “how faith [can] contribute to the process of the grounding the values which should inspire our modern society”. He said he was prompted in this by a question Pope Benedict XVI had posed to him on his first meeting with him as archbishop.

 “‘Where are the points of contact today between the Church in Ireland and those places where the future of Irish culture is being formed?’” Dr Martin quoted. “This,” he added, “is a challenge for the Churches.”

Insisting that debate between faith and culture is necessary to the healthy growth of a pluralist society, Dr Martin said that, far from “advocating a return to theocracy”, he was “challenging believers to find a language from our own rich faith tradition which can be understood and welcomed in a pluralist world”. He included in this the need also for the Churches to find a ‘language of engagement’ towards “new and perhaps surprising partnerships”.

Archbishop Martin went on to caution against any temptation to believe that people of faith could not gain a ‘kind hearing’ in modern society.

“Disenchantment with religious faith is not nearly as widespread as some who forecast the end of religion might prophecy,” he declared. 

“Many indeed look to the Church to offer its contribution to the challenge of how we root our values in today’s society.”