Protestant churches rise to challenge

THE Church of Ireland is showing a greater sense of purpose than the Catholic Church here.

Many Catholics have criticised leading members of their church for not doing enough to condemn the many vices in our society.

In contrast, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill, rightly condemns a wayward culture that’s going nowhere and giving no peace to itself (Irish Examiner, December 31). The message was insightful and tuned in to the destructive forces that prevail in our society.

The Church of Ireland and other churches are beginning to rise to the challenge of a rapidly degenerating culture, making up for the shortfalls in the unreformed and backward Catholic Church in Ireland.

The bias in favour of the Catholic Church at political level is totally unjustified. Anglican and other non-Catholic churches have not been given a meaningful role in decision-making and so the prospect of fully inclusive society remains a fantasy. Worse still is the refusal of the Catholic Church properly to acknowledge other faiths contrary to the teaching of John Paul II with the arrogant resurrection of the belief in “one apostolic church”.

Many wrongfully believe Catholicism is the essence of Irish society, but fail to take account of its inflated ego, hypocrisy and failure to accept a desperate need for root-and-branch reform.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Ringaskiddy

Co Cork