Irish state broadcaster, RTÉ, aired
two documentaries in January looking at the decline of the Catholic Church in Ireland. “The Last Priests in Ireland” was hosted by the acclaimed comedian—and one of the stars of the iconic 1990s sitcom “Father Ted”—
Ardal O’Hanlon, and “The Last Nuns in Ireland” was hosted by the award-winning journalist
Dearbhail McDonald.
RTÉ aired two documentaries in January looking at the decline of the Catholic Church in Ireland: “The Last Priests in Ireland” and “The Last Nuns in Ireland.” But signs of hope can still be discerned amid the decline after years of church turbulence.
www.americamagazine.org
Seems that Ireland is going from the land of nuns, to the land of nones. Alright, I'll stop the puns.
Here is a quick summary of the article, for folks who do not have a dozen minutes to pour over this (
The last priests and nuns in Ireland: Exploring the Irish Catholic Church’s steep decline):
The article by Kevin Hargaden, published on January 24, 2024, focuses on the decline of the Catholic Church in Ireland as depicted in two documentaries aired by RTÉ: "The Last Priests in Ireland" and "The Last Nuns in Ireland." Both shows, hosted by comedian Ardal O’Hanlon and journalist Dearbhail McDonald respectively, explore the challenges facing the institutional church without gloating or sensationalism. The documentaries reveal that the number of priests and nuns in Ireland has drastically decreased over the past five decades, with an average age of over 80 and new vocations being "vanishingly rare."
Despite this decline, neither O’Hanlon nor McDonald conclude that the church will die out. Instead, they suggest that it is undergoing a transformation or a period of hibernation before a new spring emerges. Father Niall Leahy, S.J., the parish priest of St. Francis Xavier in Dublin's economically and socially deprived north inner city, believes that this new role for the priesthood in Ireland will be forming missionary disciples. This vision involves empowering Christians to be ministers themselves, rather than a service provider struggling to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of their community alone.
Father Leahy also believes that the Irish church, when it appeared most powerful, was over-sacramentalized, and the inner life of faith could be neglected. Now, even though it might seem weaker, those who remain are exceptionally active. A new generation of Catholics, like Annie and Chris, is embracing their faith as something that demands response in action. They see the Irish people still valuing the core of the Gospel despite the church's many abuse scandals.
Annie, a young professional from rural Ireland, is part of an intentional Christian community and helps lead the young adult ministry in her parish. Chris, a teacher outside Dublin, appreciates the new era that the church is transitioning to and believes it will require forming people to better understand their faith. Both believe that challenges like longstanding disputes about sexuality need to be addressed with sensitivity, nuance, and pastoral care for certain individuals.
In conclusion, the article highlights that even though the numbers of religious vocations in Ireland have significantly decreased, growing lay leadership, an unembarrassed willingness to evangelize, and a commitment to holistic faith formation might lead the Irish church to be healthier now when it looks weaker than it was during its perceived strength in the past.
