Many Irish Catholics are furious with the Church.
The prime minister, Enda Kenny, says he has received “thousands” of messages of support for his outburst against the Vatican last week.
His government wants to limit the seal of Confession.
Vocations are at an all-time low.
Priests face widespread anger.
The
latest tide of hostility is down to the Cloyne Report – a devastating
indictment of the Church’s handling of abuse allegations as recently as
2008.
What can be done?
The Pope has apologised; the Church is being subjected to a Visitation; several bishops have resigned.
There are calls for the number of dioceses to be cut, and for many more bishops to stand down.
But will that lead to renewal?
Next
year, Pope Benedict XVI may be visiting Ireland when it hosts the 50th
International Eucharistic Congress.
He may not: the trip has never been
confirmed by the Vatican and, in the current climate, it could be
cancelled.
Some have called for the Eucharistic Congress itself to be cancelled.
But
if Benedict XVI does visit he would be able to confront the crisis in
person.
His trips to Turkey, France, the Czech Republic and Britain show
he is unafraid of hostility.
Perhaps, combined with drastic reform, his
visit might nudge Ireland towards reconciliation.