Church leader expresses concern over women ‘being murdered in their homes’ in Ireland

The leader of the Irish Catholic Church has expressed his concern over women “being murdered in their homes” in Ireland, and the serious issues of coercive control and domestic violence.

Archbishop Eamon Martin said the home should be a woman’s “most sacred place”.

He said he had raised the issue of violence against women in Rome last week at an international meeting of prelates to discuss marriage and the family.

“Marriage is a beautiful thing, but marriage and the family are extremely fragile at the moment,” Dr Martin said.

Warning that the number of marriages and the number of births are in decline, he said many are challenged and vulnerable due to relationship breakdown, domestic violence and addiction.

Dr Martin was speaking against the backdrop of the National Synodal Assembly, which took place in Gormanston, Co Meath, on Saturday, and drew 300 delegates from across Ireland representing all aspects of the Irish church.

Lay people, priests and bishops met to consider 35 proposals to guide the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

One of the outcomes which surprised delegates who the Irish Independent spoke to was the opposition to the establishment of a national office for women to foster greater inclusion.

The electronic voting recorded that just 12pc highly recommended this office for women, another 6pc recommended it, 27pc said it required further discernment, while 55pc did not recommend it.

In contrast, 42pc of delegates highly recommended that there should be ongoing exploration of women’s ministry in the church, including the diaconate. Another 12pc recommended this, 19pc said the matter required further discernment and 27pc did not recommend it.

Irish bishops will meet this week to reflect on the assembly’s outcomes, the culmination of a five-year journey to engage and sound out the Irish faithful on a path for renewal.

Archbishop Martin admitted that some of the assembly’s recommendations could be activated easily and quickly, while others would require greater planning, deployment of resources and personnel.

A strong majority of delegates (67pc) backed the proposal that healing should be a priority for the church. According to delegate Una Allen, “healing needs to be front and centre”.

She said listening to each other’s concerns “may be all very well and good, but now the church needs to act to benefit all those who have been excluded, abused, wounded and hurt”.

In his closing address, Dr Martin referred to significant milestones on the horizon for the Irish church, including the bicentenary of Catholic Emancipation in 2029 and the 16th centenary of the arrival of Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland in 2032.

As part of preparations for those events, he expressed his personal hope that at some point over the next seven years, Pope Leo would visit Ireland.

“Please God his health will allow for it. It would be great to share with him the progress that we have been making together in rekindling the fire of faith and mission in the hearts of the people on this island,” Dr Martin said.