The Collapse of the Irish Church?

Maybe I’m wrong, I am wrong too often, but in my experience growing up Catholic, it was assumed we had faith. We weren’t fed for knowledge, not that the Eucharist isn’t spiritual food, but catechism and theology classes were useless as we never cracked a Bible or a catechism. We studied “relevance” and psychology. I didn’t hear of Aquinas or Augustine until I was much older. When a non-Catholic explained to me about Jesus’ death and resurrection, well, I knew the story but didn’t think it was personal. Then he quoted “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” and I realized what I’d been missing. I didn’t have that personal faith or relationship with Jesus. He didn’t say I couldn’t be Catholic or a single negative about the Church, just gave me a Bible to read and grow. I was astounded that many stories I had heard and the readings at Mass were really there and alive! My heart is broken for my grandparents native Ireland. I pray the Lord opens doors!

Hi guys I'm a Singaporean catholic married to an Irish woman living in Ireland for the last 5 years. I am 36 and when I attend mass, all you see are mostly people above 60 that attend mass often. It's sad that the majority of 16 - 50 year olds who are baptized catholic don't bother about going to church anymore. It's also more troubling that the mother and baby homes as well as the industrial schools in the past are thrown under the rug and barely any clergy was held responsible? It's crazy I don't know how to keep a strong faith when everything around me feels like fading away.

Greetings father I'm a mexican immigrant raised protestant however I wish you many blessings in your travels and continue to enjoy your content

I’m in the west of Ireland, Father, and my churches aren’t empty. Lunchtime mass during the week is busy, Sunday mass is busy. We do have a vocations problem. The sheer scale of Catholic control over Irish society for decades was extremely negative, as we had many clergy who did not live the Gospels. There was fear, horrific abuse, and misogyny, and the Church essentially had final say on many state decisions. Even in more recent times, the seminaries were exposed as abusive places rife with active homosexuality. There are many other factors relating to loss of faith in a modern, wealthy country as Ireland is now. But the church really missed a beat in Ireland and now there is a void for many where that should be. They attempt to fill it with ‘stuff’ which is never enough.

I'm from Nigeria, and I completely agree with the sincere submissions here. There's a lot of lessons to take home if we must continue to be signs of the Kingdom of God in our local communities. The toxicity of power and clericalism may degenerate to a soulless Church identified with buildings and structures. This was not the kind intended by the Eternal groom. Pray also for the Church in Nigeria ❤❤❤

As a very catholic Irish teenager in Ireland I’d also like to say there became a very relaxed idea towards teaching Christianity from parents because you learn it school but unfortunately in our catholic ethos schools were taught close to nothing about Christianity but rather everything Islam because it gets more points in our state exams but asking my classmates and peers they also agree with me that they never even considered being religious because we’re not being taught it and not being taught the amazing things the church did for us and saved us from we’re only told about the tradgys committed by people who don’t represent God , the rise of secularism has also lead to lack of passion or care to preserving our own culture I can’t tell you how many times people have been confused when I mention our culture and Catholicism nurtured it and saved thousands of lives from just that alone

An Irish priest told me large Irish familes tried to give "one son" at least to the church like a gift. When his brother dropped out, he went but it didn't seem like a "calling" more an obligation.

Thanks Fr Casey from Singapore. This video gives me hope, for my husband to return to the church..a man of Irish descent, living in Australia, and was hurt by the Church. Praying in gratitude for Ireland, and you and the team for this video and all your productions. ❤

I suspect the Irish Church got far too close to the Irish state, that never ends well.

I’m also coming back to the faith of my childhood. I’m 59 and falling in love with the catholic faith 🙏🏻💚

It is truly a shame to see all this happening not just there but also around the world this is not just limited to the Catholic faith but others as well. As a member of the clergy myself in the theologian, unfortunately people are being misguided and misled from entities of this world and not of this world this world. It is not just up to the clergy, it is up to the congregation to spread the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the land. God bless you my brother and thank you for this wonderful presentation. Yours in Christ. Minister Timothy Michael Chicago Illinois

Bro, that Dublin to NYC portal is wild

I hear people in the us say "churches are empty" but they haven't been to Mass in Spanish where it's always standing room only.

Dear Fr. Casey, while I'm with you on clericalism, and also on priestly abuse, we must not leave out the institutional abuse of many Irish Catholic organizations against young women and their babies. While not difficult to understand when a mob organization is behind such terrible sins and the millions of lives affected, I tremble like the angels just to think why so many Catholics in positions of authority can rationalize these ills and not take ownership for them. Good point on how Irish hierarchy became the power behind the throne and really enjoyed it. However, this is a major problem throughout the world, as well as the Vatican, and explains why Pope Francis is being attacked from many places inside and outside the Church. I also believe that in discussing the Church's trust problems not only in Ireland, but also around the world, clericalism needs to be looked into much deeper to uncover the monstrosities caused by them. There's still much more evil to be uncovered under this topic. Please continue to pursue this topic, plus in your own humble way, to encourage fellow priests in various levels of authority, to walk the talk when it comes to taking ownership for past Church sins, instead of continuing to look down at the laity and expecting us to continue to seeing them as something special. Please remind them, especially bishops, that simply saying that the worst is way behind us, is an insult to our intelligence and an insult to our Lord and the power in Heaven. While God is merciful and wants all of us to repent, I firmly believe He was thinking about Church abuses and those responsible when He thundered against those responsible constant Pharisaism in His homeland.

My first cousin once removed fits the three sons trope. His eldest brother got the carpenters yard from his dad, the middle child got a mechanics apprenticeship financed by a field being sold and the youngest a then closeted gay man became a priest. He specialised in providing clerical support to those in hospice care. He eventually came out, left the priesthood and got married to his husband Patrice, a lovely Frenchman. But his priesthood did allow him to discover his vocation in life, giving care to the dying. He is now a therapist who specialises in counselling to the dying and their families.

I think it's similar to the issues in the church of England and Scotland. When the church is inherently linked to the political system of a country, it falls apart when the government becomes secular

The laundries did irrevocable damage to the church’s standing with women, compounding all the other issues.

I appreciate your reasonable thoughts on beautiful churches Communication /word of God will be the main priority for with present generation & & continue to coming generations for revival 🎉❤❤ From India 🎉🎉❤❤

It’s coming back. The world is getting harder and people are finding their way back to Jesus. 🙏

You are 100% correct. Welcome to Ireland.