Nuncio urges Catholics not to be afraid to proclaim their Faith

Many Catholics feel they have to keep their heads down because their faith attracts criticism from the dominant culture, the Papal Nuncio has warned.

Archbishop Jude Okolo told a gathering in Galway in the weekend that it was also disappointing that the media tends to focus on negativity – particularly when it comes to reporting on the Church. He added that as a former journalist, he understood the parochialism and sometimes insidious nature of the media, he said this should not deter people from having hope in the Church.

“I too am a journalist. I understand it. They will just pull you down and criticise you and then go to your files and see if there are some ghosts in the cupboard,” he said. Despite this, he said, Catholics should not be afraid, stressing that if God is put first in people’s lives it is hard to lose hope.

He said discouragement and disillusionment amongst followers of the Church was not a new thing and that Catholics were denying their faith out of fear of being branded conservatives and traditionalists.

Speaking at the Festival of Faith Conference, the Nuncio prayed for forgiveness for the times the Church has let people down.

“One of the first things I want to do here today, on behalf of the Holy Father is to close my eyes and say I am sorry. We are sorry; for creating the disappointment. Just like Peter, who wept bitterly, I’m saying we are sorry. I am sorry for whatever discouragement and disappointment we created for you. May the Lord forgive us, amen,” he said.