Lazy assumptions on Church celibacy issue

THE resignation of Fr Maurice Dillane because he fathered a child gave your columnist Ryle Dwyer (Irish Examiner, January 21) an opportunity to weigh in with his two cents’ worth.

He thinks the Catholic Church should finally “get the message on celibacy.” He goes back 11 years and trawls up the intemperate remarks surrounding the Fr Michael Cleary and Bishop Eamon Casey controversies to bolster his argument. He finishes by making some lazy assumptions linking celibacy to falling vocations and declining congregations.

His analysis, by being so insular and of the moment, ignores the growth of the Catholic Church around the world, despite the celibacy ‘clause.’

However, following his logic, does he then think that declining attendance at Church of Ireland services, and the resignation of Bishop Peter Barrett because of his marriage break-up, should call into question the rationale behind allowing Anglican clergy to marry?

Such simplistic kneejerk reactions do not do justice to the very real pain and suffering in these cases. We would be better served if journalists respected people’s privacy and reflected more thoughtfully on the issue of celibacy as your other columnist Rónán Mullen did (Irish Examiner, January 25).

Mark Daly

Castlefield

Clonsilla

Dublin 15