In 2010 it was hard to detect progress towards a respectable and accountable governmental system for the church, despite the aftershocks of the Ryan and Murphy reports of 2009.  A papal pastoral letter to Ireland in March 2010 did not recognise what was obvious to virtually everyone in Ireland - that these reports signalled a catastrophic failure of self-regulation by the universal church.  Nor did it do what the situation obviously requires: initiate a thorough internal investigation of all aspects of a disaster that had never been confined to Ireland.

Instead it promised an 'apostolic visitation' of the Irish church.  Led by Cardinals Sean O'Malley, and Cormac Murphy O'Connor, this was ongoing as 2011 began.  Its stated remit was to assist the Irish church in the task of renewal, but it is difficult to see how it can do this if there is no intent to examine the structural problems that left the Irish church in need of secular processes of investigation to vindicate its most vulnerable members.  The spreading of the abuse scandal to other parts of Europe in 2010 - including the pope's own homeland, Germany - has surely proven that there are deep systemic problems that need to be dealt with centrally.

In December 2010 the Irish Bishops' Conference received a report on a consultation of Irish church members that had followed the pope's pastoral in May 2010.  Although this consultation had been inadequately publicised in many (probably most) dioceses, nearly 3,000 respondents had placed the structural problem at the top of their list of matters needing attention.

This surely should shape the agenda for the Irish Bishops Conference at their quarterly meetings in 2011.  Nothing is of greater importance - not even the need to plan for the Eucharistic Congress due in 2012.

Other events in 2011 will keep the abuse issue, and its causes, centre stage.  An NBSC audit of child protection issues was ongoing in north-western dioceses (beginning with Raphoe) as the year began.  The results of a HSE audit of the same issues in all dioceses was also nearing completion.  And the publication of a report on an investigation of the diocese of Cloyne by the Murphy commission was also in the pipeline.

And when will the Irish Bishops Conference initiate a multi-disciplinary inquiry into the events detailed in the Ryan report - called for not only by the report itself but by Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Noel Treanor in the immediate aftermath of the report?  The aftermath of an earthquake is always a difficult time, but this critically important matter should not be delayed if the Irish church is ever to understand why it failed Ireland's most vulnerable children in the 20th century.

The apostolic visitation is also investigating the Irish church's pastoral response to victims of abuse.  2011 should also see some progress in this area if healing is to be possible.  VOTFI has urged that the ICBC develop a policy on this as rapidly as possible, and we will be watching carefully for progress.

We are hoping also that the newly-formed Irish Association for Catholic Priests will be a force for changing the dysfunctional relationships that still too often prevail between clergy and people in Ireland.  Some kind of synod or assembly of the Irish Church has been vaguely suggested by its leadership.  There is need also to plan a commemoration of the second Vatican Council: the half centenary of the opening of the council will fall also in 2012.

The tide has surely gone out on the clericalist church culture that produced the awful revelations of 2009.  We need to catch a new tide of reform and renewal soon.  2011 could be a decisive year.

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.

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