Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Fr Andrew McMahon
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s latest public critique of Irish Catholics came in the course of a feature in The New York Times in early December, complied by correspondent Liam Stack. Like the majority of portrayals of Irish life undertaken by English-speaking journalists, the New York account revolves around a familiar range of clichés largely devised, and regularly regurgitated, by the media here. Put simply: Ireland is gradually recovering from being, what the newspaper terms, “long a bastion of Catholic conservatism.” This is media-speak for a dark and uninviting place, dominated by regressive thinking. According to the well-worn narrative, the battle for civilisation has, mercifully, made huge strides in more recent decades, with legislation for divorce and legalisation of ‘same-sex marriage’ being among revered examples of such progress. The struggle is far from over, however, and no less a figure than drag queen Rory O’Neill, aka Panti Bliss, is quoted by Stack to outline how disturbingly incomplete the project remains: “Young people go away, work, then come back a few years later”, explains O’Neill, only to exclaim on their return “My god, I can’t get an abortion here.” Such shocking deprivation, the article implies, results from the stubborn remnant of this once-powerful Catholic culture which, while deservedly battered by abuse scandals for several years, has not only refused to leave the stage entirely but, distressingly, continues to yield power and influence. This, the newspaper explains, is largely through its ‘control’ of schools and its ownership of hospitals, or the lands they occupy.
Hope
A glimmer of hope, however, derives from the real possibility that the Church’s influence in Ireland may remain, quite literally, at that institutional level – its claim upon various sites of brick and mortar. The true fidelity of so-called Catholics may, in reality, be much more dubious. It is in this context that the Archbishop of Dublin’s observations are reported. While The New York Times points out how an alarming 78% of the Irish population continued to identify themselves as ‘Catholic’ in the census of 2011, Diarmuid Martin is quoted as qualifying this figure. The figure for “true believers”, according to the archbishop, is “closer to 20%”. While this humble residue could presumably prove an irritant to the project of further enlightenment, it seems their days are well and truly numbered. With reference to those who are still faithful in attending church, in this country, Archbishop Martin tells the newspaper “you know, I don’t want to be nasty – but they’re a dying breed.
“The situation is changing” he concludes “but Irish Catholicism hasn’t changed with it.”
Ireland has, of course, been ‘changing’ for some time now and there can be no denying that. Whether Catholicism should have ‘changed with it’ – to borrow the archbishop’s phrase – depends upon how one evaluates the fruits of such change. A closer look at census details by The New York Times would have revealed, for example, that the rate of marriage breakdown in Ireland is now seven times higher than it was prior to the introduction of divorce legislation, despite claims back then that the measure would somehow safeguard the institution of marriage.
Family life, meanwhile, continues to suffer destabilisation, with more than a third of Irish children now born outside of marriage. Increasing numbers of young people are being brought up in lone parent situations, typically without the presence of a father figure, and child poverty is on the rise. The Children and Family Relationships Act and the passing of the same-sex marriage referendum, both in 2015, have combined to further undermine the traditional family unit in Ireland, with the potential to deprive future generations of children of the right of access to their natural father and mother in their upbringing. And that’s before we even contemplate the consequences of a possible repeal of ‘The Eighth’.
Serious commentary on Irish affairs would analyse both the merits and drawbacks of developments in society here and – against that bigger picture – assess the diminishing influence of the Church. While journalism presents itself as fulfilling this function, most mainstream journalists operate now as little more than campaigners for pseudo-liberal agendas.
When consulted around these issues, therefore, Church leaders might attempt – in some small way – to remedy this imbalance. It is disheartening when they fail to do so and appear to resort, instead, to indulging media prejudices and reinforcing highly debatable stereotypes.
The Archbishop of Dublin has proven himself astute in developing and maintaining a wholly positive image, within media circles, in otherwise hazardous years for Irish Catholicism.
He has appeared reluctant, however, to explore the scope this might have afforded him to offer a serious critique of the culture emerging in Ireland, in that same period.
Denunciations
There have been vigorous denunciations from him, over many years, of the scourges of clerical child abuse and, more recently, urban gangland crime. These, however, will inevitably be priorities with a sexually liberal and overwhelmingly bourgeois media and, to that extent, effectively amount to pushing at an open door.
Archbishop Martin has won widespread acclaim for a readiness to challenge Catholic culture and Church life within this country. A powerful and, perhaps, complacent Church may once have needed such challenges. Now, however, it is a much weakened and, often, maligned body. A different kind of leadership is necessary. Last Friday, December 8th, The Irish Times marked the holyday by publishing a particularly tasteless article by Hilary Fannin, in which the columnist – in dialogue with her cat – poured scorn on the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, concluding that her religious education had amounted to ‘claptrap.’ It was just another example of the gratuitous denigration to which Catholic churchgoers, and their beliefs, are routinely subjected by influential elements of the Dublin media. When, against that backdrop, their archbishop uses the media to label them ‘a dying breed’, it can be hardly be surprising that frustration is experienced and demoralisation reported.
Fr Andrew McMahon is a priest of the Diocese of Dromore.