Church and catholicism.

Maynooth -- In a recent interview, Fr. Vincent Twomey, moral theologian, has discussed his new book, The End of Irish Catholicism? Up until about 30 years ago, he noted, to be Irish was to be Catholic. The transformation of the Irish economy from depression to prosperity over the past 30 years has given rise to consumerism, said Fr. Twomey. The energy the Irish once put into saving their souls is now channeled into creating heaven on earth. Furthermore, the civil war in Northern Ireland has damaged the reputation of both nationalism and Irish Catholicism.

The Second Vatican Council created confusion and inadvertently undermined the confidence of the Irish clergy in what they had once accepted uncritically. Clergy themselves began to doubt and consequently provided weakened leadership in education and morals, said Fr Twomey.

In spite of the depredations of consumerism, sexual abuse scandals, civil war, and weakening moral authority, the Irish Church still has the highest number of Mass-goers in Western Europe. Fr. Twomey hinted at a remedy for the weakening of moral authority when he discussed the tendency of individual bishops to hide behind the anonymity of their episcopal conferences. People are not convinced by long documents produced by anonymous conferences, he said, but by honest bishops and priests who try earnestly to think with the Church and are not intimidated by the media.

In answer to a question on how to renew the Church in Ireland, Ft. Twomey called for centres of specialized scholarship in theological research and greater attention to the celebration of the sacraments and the revival of feast-day celebrations (The Universe, May 16, 2004).