Churches have a credibility problem

YOUR series on religion in Ireland (March 20-21) was very bad news for the churches.

It seems the general population, and in particular younger people, retain a high degree of religious belief but have largely lost faith in the churches as necessary intermediaries in the process. This should come as no surprise given the events of recent years. In fact it would be much more remarkable if the churches had managed to retain anything like their previous position of authority and respect.

What is far more surprising is the apparent level of optimism among churchmen that their current tribulations are largely due to the upsurge in materialism in Ireland and that all will return to ‘normal’ for them when people tire of buying largely unneeded goods.

I do not believe this to be at all likely. The churches, deservedly, have lost credibility and there are few things harder to recover than one’s good name, even in cases where it has been wrongly defamed. It seems highly likely that churches will continue to struggle in a climate where many people see them as being irrelevant, at best, and corrupt, at worst.

Modern Ireland is better educated, more cynical, more self-confident, far less in awe of authority and probably unwilling to subsidise the grocery bills of those for whom it has lost respect.

David Roberts

‘Gloundine’

Castlegrove

Mallow

Co Cork