Norwich, England, May 9, 2017 / 03:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Neither the narrow narrative against religion nor the real failings of the Church should define the role of Catholics in public life, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh has said.
“Our challenge is to present to the world the edifying and inspiring witness of people of faith,” said the archbishop. “We are impacted by the process of secularization. We live, breathe, work and believe alongside people of other traditions, faiths and none and the pressure on believers to conform, to become just like everyone else, is often immense and overpowering.”
The Northern Ireland-based Archbishop Martin, who is Primate of All Ireland, delivered the 2017 Newman Lecture May 8 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He gave an Irish perspective on the Church in the public sphere, and his speaking notes were published on the website of the Irish bishops’ conference.
About 78 percent of Ireland’s 4.76 million citizens self-identify as Catholic, according to the most recent census. This is a decline of five percentage points over a five-year period.
While Archbishop Martin noted that this is still a remarkable number of Catholics, he said social commentary in Ireland has focused on “the decline of the Church.” Some have again called to remove the Church’s perceived influence in schools, health care, and public policy.
“Such a narrative clearly challenges the Church to find new ways of presenting the Joy of the Gospel, and for example the Gospel of the Family, in the public sphere,” the archbishop said.
“There is no question that the practice of faith in Ireland has been hugely exposed to, and challenged by, the prevailing culture,” he said, according to the notes. At the same time, there seems to be little appetite for “any substantial critique of culture by people of faith,” especially if this means presenting serious questions about the “almost compulsory consensus on controversial issues.”
Archbishop Martin said scandals in the Church should not be used as an excuse to silence well-founded religious critiques of society, nor should they be allowed to conceal the dedication of Catholic priests and religious.
“When we attempt as Church to speak in the public sphere about the right to life of the unborn, some are quick to point to the scandals and to shameful stories of the past,” he said. “Decades of service by countless religious sisters and priests to the education and healthcare of the people of Ireland and all over the world is almost obliterated by a revised and narrow narrative that religious ethos cannot be good for democracy and stands against the progress and flourishing of society and the rights of citizens.”
At the same time, the archbishop said the Church has been too defensive in its reaction to criticisms. These responses show simple denial or claim unfairness or conspiracy “rather than being thankful that the lid has been lifted on a terrible and shameful chapter of our history and at last giving a voice to those who for years have been carrying a lonely trauma.”
“I am convinced, however, that the failures of the past must not be allowed to define us, but should instead help all of us in the public sphere learn lessons for the present about where Church and society might today be similarly marginalizing the poor, stigmatizing the unwanted or failing to protect the most vulnerable.”
As a model for striking a positive tone in the public sphere, Archbishop Martin cited the French bishops’ October 2016 statement to the nation, in which they cautioned against aspirations to be a “church of the pure” or “a counterculture removed from society, posing as a judge from above.”
“They speak as people of faith, but also as fellow French citizens, pastorally accompanying their troubled people with empathy and concern,” the archbishop said. “With faith and conviction we will sometimes bring uncomfortable questions into the public sphere e.g. about the impact of economic policies on the most vulnerable, or to point out the contradictions of populism, all the while being careful not to become too sensitive to criticism or always claiming to be offended.”
He rejected false claims that the Church desires to create a “theocracy.” At the same time, “the Church does expect that in a true pluralist democracy or republic, religion and faith will continue to have an important part to play in the national conversation.”
The archbishop was critical of tendencies to see faith-related institutions, like hospitals and schools, as unconnected to reason. Every Catholic position on morals is argued from reason, even when there is biblical justification.
He also countered claims that the bishops are overly interested in sexual morality, saying bishops in both north and south “makes it clear that the Bishops seek to bring the Joy of the Gospel to bear on a whole range of issues.”
The importance of culture was also a focus. While the Church may be “counter-cultural,” she is not “extra-cultural.”
Archbishop Martin noted three potential possibilities for Catholics: a “culture of openness,” which some fear dilutes Catholic beliefs and leads to unjustified compromise; a “culture of identity” that stresses Catholic distinctiveness instead of what Catholics have in common with all people of good will; and the “culture of engagement,” with two-way critical interaction and conversations between religious traditions and the broader culture.
“Despite the voices nowadays which might tempt the Church into pointless culture wars, or even suggest that Christians might opt out of the public square to some sort of ‘parallel polis,’ I am completely convinced that the voice of faith can and should remain engaged in the public square,” the archbishop said.
“Our faith is not simply for the privacy of our homes and churches. The Gospel is meant for mission. It is not to be cloistered away from the cut and thrust of public discourse.”
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In context of the Bishop’s warning, Daniel prophesies the well known abolition of the daily sacrifice and enshrinement of the abomination of desolation. At present we may hypothesize whether this prophecy has relevance to future changes to the liturgy of the Eucharist, what portent, if any, does the Synod on Synodality have.
Likewise most who read scripture are familiar with 2 Thess 2 and Paul’s reference to the great apostasy and appearance of the lawless one who occupies the sanctuary as if he were God. John in Revelation writes the false prophet is to assist the beast from the sea, and to induce men to adore its image. The first act of the drama concludes with a promise of victory over the beast by the lamb of God. Whatever we may assume regarding these passages we cannot say we should not read them, they were written to be read, and to assess what may be relevant.
“The Church can neither live nor survive without priests. It’s a vital necessity. Because she cannot live without the presence of Christ who continually vivifies her through the sacraments, and especially through the Eucharist” (Bishop Demetrio Fernández). It’s virtually impossible for vocations to cease to exist as it is for the priesthood not to exist unless there were some form of prohibitive measures in place.
Abolition of the Eucharist were it to occur, sans priests reminds us of the great saving gift the Eucharist is. It is the Eucharistic presence in us that draws us away from sin, to pull back when sorely tempted. It’s the daily offer of the body and blood to the Father that stays his hand from retribution. It’s the intrinsic nature of sacrifice and banquet that gives us our daily bread fed to us by the hand of the priest [as it should be]. Surely the Holy Spirit will strengthen us when these prophetic events occur, however the absence of the Eucharist will make the work of the Spirit that much more difficult. Whatever will occur Christ Vincit.
Continued blessings of discernment, insight and wisdom. Thank you.
Tell it to Pope Francis, who seems to berate and belittle priests at every turn.
All who follow Christ need to be rebuked. Constructive criticism leads us to confession and betterment. Though much censure has been directed towards the incumbent, he seems unmoved by it.
Blessings.
“Physician heal thyself”. Yes and yet, I will need a trained doctor from time to time. The engineering project in the back of my mind needs a competent professional to bring the matter to fruition.
Our eternal soul needs tending to as well. A good pastor knows of these matters and rightly handles the word of truth!
Is the end of our life here, the beginning of eternal life with Christ, or does it mean eternal separation from Him?
We want to know that Jesus “is the way and the truth and the life” and a good priest helps show us the way.