After Francis: what’s the future for the church in Ireland?
22/08/2018
Tags: Community and SocietyDemography and Identity
Despite the changes since the last papal visit, Ireland is still a country with high levels of religious commitment amongst young and old says Dr Gladys Ganiel.
When Pope Francis arrives in Ireland, he will be visiting a different country from the one that hosted Pope John Paul II in 1979. Back then, it was still possible to believe in a “holy Catholic Ireland”, united in its fidelity to the Church. Today, the illusion of a holy Catholic Ireland has been shattered. As Francis’ visit approaches, it has become a cliché to point this out. But given the scale of decline between papal visits, it seems reasonable to ask: what’s the future for the Church in Ireland after Francis?
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Article originally appeared on the RTE Brainstorm site.
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