Diocesan News
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin speaks on ‘The Church of the Future’
175th anniversary celebration for St Michael’s Church, Pery Square, Limerick
In a very interesting and wide–ranging discourse on the topic of the Church of the Future, Dr Diarmuid Martin outlined his views on the history of the Church, referring to both the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland traditions.
He spoke of the place of these traditions in Irish society and culture (which has become heavily secularised) and the churches’ changing relationship to the State. The provision of the services of education and health, over time, have been reclaimed and are now funded by the State. The churches’ ethos of caring and compassion have changed by reason of this reclamation, but now may be recovered in the provision of alternatives for women in crisis pregnancies, where abortion services have increased.
The Archbishop learned in his priestly training that we live in constantly changing times. So how to deal with change?
This is particularly difficult when for generations continuity and tradition were prized in both the Catholic and Church of Ireland traditions.
Archbishop Martin stated that Pope John XXIII in his Vatican Council recognised that human progress, with all its ambiguities, could also bring us insights into how we understand the received doctrine. Not everyone in our churches understands this even today. Archbishop Martin fears that people will build firewalls between their beliefs and the world in which they live.
He stated that we have statistics about decline in religious practice and yet there is a vibrancy in many areas of the churches.
The Archbishop spoke of how, between himself and the Church of Ireland Archbishops, John Neill and his successor Michael Jackson, they have experienced true ecumenical friendship, and at moments of real difficulty for him personally, they have been a real support.
In relation to areas where ecumenical collaboration can improve, and though differences still exist between our two denominations, Archbishop Martin, expressed the need for more assertiveness in theological dialogue, together with the need for our theological institutions to do more research and reflection together.
Pope Francis’ Encyclical on environment and climate justice can also open opportunities for young people from both traditions to develop relationships.
Dean Niall Sloane allowed for a series of questions from the well–attended audience and on completion of the evening’s proceedings he made a presentation to the Archbishop.
Communications Officer, Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe
089 448 9353
Stephen Fletcher
comms@tlk.ie