The recent World Atheist Convention in Dublin “may have been seen as
giving more material for a relentless media campaign to denigrate
religion and spirituality in all of its forms”, Catholic Auxiliary
Bishop of Down and Connor Donal McKeown has said.
“People of faith,” he said, “see church condemned and mocked no matter what it does.”
Speaking
in Knock, he said: “We can be afraid to speak of Christ, or afraid that
signs of Christian faith will bring only mockery and disdain. And many
have lost energy because they feel angry or bereaved at how the Irish
church has fallen from its position of integrity and leadership in Irish
society,” he said.