Irish Catholicism is a ‘northern white rhino’ about to go extinct

Irish Catholicism is visibly dying ... its decline is, in my opinion, irreversible, says Fergus Finlay.

Is Catholicism at death’s door in Ireland? I’m not asking if it’s struggling, or even in crisis. Is it actually beyond the point of recovery? When Pope Francis visits Ireland later this year, will he breathe new life into his moribund organisation, or will he have to preside over its last rites?

I’m not a Catholic, although, as a baby, I was baptised into the Church. Years ago, I decided that what worked for me was humanism.