Cardinal’s position - Catholicism has changed beyond belief

Some of the data published in the first extracts from our most recent census shows that over 80% of Irish people describe themselves as Catholic.

Though this is a significant majority it seems unlikely that all of these good people — you, more than likely — would regard themselves as Catholic in the traditional, subservient, knee-bending, Dr John Charles McQuaid way.

Just as there are many kinds of Irish people there seems today to be many kinds of Irish Catholic. This week’s revelations by the BBC about Cardinal Seán Brady’s role in investigations into the outrages inflicted by Brendan Smyth may force more people, born and raised Catholic and more or less practising as such, to question their commitment to the institution of the Catholic Church. They may question how they can be part of an organisation that automatically puts corporate security before anything or anyone else, no matter how many children have been raped, no matter how many high churchmen have colluded to cover up the outrage.