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Reflections

Bishop Willie Walsh, retired bishop of Killaloe, will deliver a lecture in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Cavan, on Monday, October 17, at 5.45pm entitled 'Why Remain a Catholic?' It is a question considered by many people today as the Church struggles to adapt to the modern world and extricate itself from the damage done by abuse scandals and cover ups. Many faithful, committed Catholics wonder where they are being led and what they are to do in order to keep the essential mission of the Church alive.

Changing fashions

The purpose of the second Vatican Council was to acknowledge that the world was changing rapidly and that the Church could no longer live in isolation with its own medieval structure and mode of operating.

The documents of the Council called for a less clerically driven Church where lay people would have genuine, not token, involvement in the work and life of the Church. The liturgy was to become more accessible to the people. The priest could speak to them in a way that connected their faith with their life. Above all the Church was to become more transparent and inclusive and less elitist and judgmental than it had been in the past.

Moving forward 46 years to the present day we must now ask the question - has the vision of the council been realised? Sadly, in my opinion, the answer is no. Why is this the case? The courage that was necessary to change the superfluous customs and privileges that the Church had accumulated over many years was simply not there. The direction and help available from the Holy Spirit, and so powerfully witnessed in the council itself, was sidelined as fear and doubt entered in.

Struggle to Connect

The effects of this rejection of much of what Vatican II stood for have been catastrophic for the church's life and mission. Practice levels have fallen, the numbers of priests has greatly diminished and the lack of youth and vibrancy in our Church has greatly affected morale. Many of those entrusted with leadership in the Church struggle to connect with people and they hesitate to really address the deeper causes of the abuse scandals that have brought such pain and sorrow. People with much to offer are effectively excluded from ministry because of their gender, or because they are not prepared to be celibate or because of their past mistakes.

Need for Change

It is sad when retired Bishops like Edward Daly and Willie Walsh are virtually the only voices in the upper echelons of the Church who speak of the need for real change. If that change doesn't begin to take shape then we will as a Church continue to be mired in secrecy and scandal and the great light and hope we possess in our sacraments will remain hidden under a bushel.

The vision of the council gives me hope and that is why I remain a Catholic. The richness and depth of spirituality in the Catholic Church is nowhere else. But it is a human institution and the very human problems that it is experiencing need to be tackled. This will only happen if we have a renewed faith in the work and power of the Holy Spirit and if the blueprint provided for us nearly half a century ago is given genuine support.