The close attachment of Irish Catholics to their priests is world-renowned.  When Catholic Ireland's educated classes were gradually weakened by the Tudor and Stuart conquests and plantations, and the wars that followed (1534-1691), it was often Catholic clergy alone who provided continuity of faith and identity and community leadership - often at considerable personal risk.  Their role in educating past generations was also unparalleled.

The traditional title of 'Father' given by us to our priests expresses that trustful relationship.

That close attachment has meant that when the shameful behaviour of a small minority of clergy is highlighted by media scandal in our own time, all Irish Catholics feel the distress of the innocent majority of clergy, and religious, at the disgrace of the few.  That innocent majority are the uncles or brothers or aunts or sisters or cousins or school friends of many of us, and they have served us admirably for decades as teachers and ministers.  The quiet, prayerful, self-sacrificial example of many is truly heroic. 

Moreover, we in Voice of the Faithful believe that, as ministers of the Gospel, they have truly brought us the treasure hidden in the field, that we would sell all that we have to own - the Gospel truth itself.  We proclaim that truth, the truth of the Creeds, as our truth also.  We feel it is time for us laity to state that fact without fear and to celebrate this gift together - in confidence that the whole truth will in time be told about the indispensable contribution that Catholic clergy have made to the emergence of a more prosperous, confident and free Irish society.

So deeply do we feel their pain, and so determined are we to proclaim the essential truth of what they taught us, that we in Voice of the Faithful want to forge an even closer relationship between clergy and people.  That relationship will be one of close collaboration and friendship, in which leadership and initiative can be exercised by all in a spirit of equal dignity and equal responsibility, and equal respect for the gifts and sacramental status of all.

Clericalism and Anti-clericalism

For despite the close attachment of the past there was a serious fault line in Ireland's Catholic culture long before the 1990s - a separation between clergy and laity that focused too much Christian responsibility and social awe upon the ordained cleric, and expected far too little Christian initiative and intellectual effort from the baptized and confirmed lay person. 

The time-honoured title of 'Father' too often carried a paternalistic overtone - an unspoken social convention that 'Father' must always know best and that the earth would move under everyone's feet if 'Father' did not forever have the last word. 

This is the disease known as clericalism - the tendency to think of clergy as all-knowing and all-wise, and to defer automatically to their opinions and decisions, especially in matters of faith.  It denies to lay people the truth of their equality of dignity in the church, the dignity of their own intelligence, and the freedom to be truly themselves as adults.  The resulting frustration is the root of the opposite disease in Irish life:  anti-clericalism.

We all know well the tendency that followed from this:  the tendency for many of us to have one way of speaking to 'Father' in his presence, and, often, a quite different way of speaking about 'Father' in his absence.   This duplicity is probably a hangover from the era of the landlord, when Catholic clergy were also, to a degree, an educated overclass. 

We in Voice of the Faithful want to put an end to all of that falseness, all that 'Father Ted' dysfunction, all that separation into 'them' and us' - and to foster a culture of frankness and honesty and equal respect between clergy and people.  For we are all at the same time sinners as well as brothers and sisters in Christ

We want to develop an understanding of the difference between deference and true respect - and to build a new relationship of true and genuine mutual esteem and honesty between clergy and people - based upon a greater respect for the sacrament we all share - Baptism.

We want also to build new structures of belonging and mutual accountability which will allow all to participate in a creative way in the development of the church

And we want to begin to do that in prayer and study together.  VOTF in Ireland deeply believes that we all need to share and pool our wisdoms, and explore the church's vast spiritual and intellectual resources, in a spirit of equality and mutual need.

False Allegation

We have a special feeling also about those priests and religious who have suffered false allegation.  Balancing the paramountcy of the safety of children and the principle of natural justice for all adults is a primary task for the emerging church.  We will do all in our power to create a deep sense of responsibility in lay people never to rush to judgement, never to take an allegation as a fact - to pray for all concerned when allegations are made and to suspend all judgement in the knowledge that false allegations do occasionally occur - causing awful suffering.

For we believe that all of us are called to ministry, and that clergy are now as much in need of our lay ministry to them as we have always been in need of their ministry to us.  Friendship too is an essential ministry in the church, and that gift of grace, and that obligation, is given to all.

Already many of us in Voice of the Faithful have cherished relationships with clergy who have shown us what it is to be honest and courageous and open.  We want that same honesty and openness and courage - and friendship - to characterize the whole of the Irish church.
 

VOTF™
Mission Statement

To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.

Our Goals

2. To support priests of integrity

3.To shape structural change within the Catholic Church.

home | survivor support | clergy support | about us | press | contact us | site index

Copyright © 2006 Voice of the Faithful - Ireland.

Voice of the Faithful - Ireland
c/o 2 Greenhill Road, Coleraine, Co Derry, N.I., BT51 3JE.

Voice of the Faithful, VOTF, "Keep the Faith, Change the Church,"
VOTF logo(s), are trademarks of Voice of the Faithful, Inc.