Patriarchy has dominated the Catholic Church for several centuries, summarised as “Pay, Pray and Obey”.
Pope Francis sought to change this by introducing “Synodality” where we all walk together, share together and decide together.
In Ireland there was an enthusiastic take up of Synodality with all 26 dioceses submitting syntheses and a further 29 submissions were received from other groups to be included in the National Synthesis in 2022:
· across the various submissions and syntheses many issues emerge consistently, including a strong desire for women’s involvement in leadership and ministries – ordained and non-ordained (Page 24, National Synthesis 2022)
· There were calls from both young and older participants for optional celibacy, married priests, female priests, and the return of those who had left the priesthood to marry. (Page 8, National Synthesis 2022)
But in the Working Document for the Irish National Synod on 17 October 2026 there is
· no mention of women priests;
· no mention of optional celibacy
· no mention of married priest
Why have these 3 important issues disappeared completely since 2022? When in general opinion polls over the past decade the ordination of women priests and married priests have shown a two-thirds majority in favour of both these issues?
To me the answer is simple: Patriarchy is deeply engrained in Ireland. And our bishops exercise their patriarchal control over the Synodal process. They do this by approving all the delegates for the Kilkenny meeting and for the National Assembly in October 2026.
Some reform minded groups (like We Are Church Ireland and the Association of Catholics in Ireland) were invited to send a small number of delegates.
But the largest majority by far of delegates were selected by our bishops from the 15% of Catholics actively involved in their church. Those on the margins received token representation.
Yet those on the margins represent the large majority of those who identify as Roman Catholic: While 69% of the population of Ireland identify as Romen Catholic in the census, only some 15% are actively involved in their church.
So while Women Priests were mentioned in the 2022 National Synthesis, they receive no mention in the 2026 Working Document. The Women’s Working Group states: “In respect of diaconal ordination there was a lack of consensus in the group.”
So the feeble proposal offered is to “advocate for on-going exploration of women’s ministry, including the diaconate.”
The issue of Women Priests remains a key criteria in the patriarchy. Remember in 2021 when Ger Nash was selected to be the new Bishop of Ferns? He gave an interview in which he said he was in favour of women priests.
But within a week he then confirmed to the Irish Catholic that he “absolutely” agrees with rulings by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis that the Church has no authority to introduce ordination for women.