Irish Catholics have become timid, Dublin’s archbishop says
CWN – July 18, 2012
Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said that the Catholic Church has been “too timid in bringing its liberating voice to the demons of Irish society.”
“Scandals within the Church and perhaps a lack of faith” have been factors in quieting the voice of the Church, the archbishop said. But he added that Catholics have shown too much deference to secularists who would remove religious opinions from public debate:
We are tempted to succumb to the widespread opinion that Christianity is really something private and personal for our own devotion and inspiration and not something that has its relevance in the public square.
Archbishop Martin said that Christians should never seek to “impose their views” on society, but should strive to “win over others” through effective witness.
Additional sources for this story: Church “too timid” in confronting social issues says Archbishop Martin (Iona Institute) www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=2282#.UAbXpTBq9vQ.facebook