Priests have expressed misgivings over the management of the church in a blueprint for the future of the diocese of Killaloe.
The draft, Pastoral Plan for Killaloe Diocese 2003, records how priests feel a sense of being "abandoned and unsupported" by the church.
The draft plan says that the priests are hurt by the growing gap between the church and younger generations. They feel that the church "has not provided the necessary leadership and direction to find a way forward".
Pointing out that the priests were getting older and there were fewer, it says: "Priests feel they have not received the formation to equip them for the situation they are in.
"They know that they cannot deal with this issue on their own, and that the future lies in teamwork among priests and laity, but they do not feel equipped themselves to develop this to the level that is needed."
In response to the report, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, said yesterday: "I am saddened by it and very much regret that they feel this way. As one of those church leaders, I accept responsibility for that and just hope I can in some way contribute to restoring that confidence in our leadership."
He said he hoped the implementation of the plan would address the priests' concerns. "The principal way we can restore confidence is carrying out a constant re-examination of the leadership in the church, particularly the quality of the leadership."
Bishop Walsh said that additional training of priests would also play a role.
Against the backdrop of declining priest numbers, the report was drawn up following a request from priests to Bishop Walsh last year that some medium-term pastoral plan be put in place.
As a result, a committee, chaired by Father Harry Bohan, has conducted consultations over recent months with "people alienated from the church, to people committed and involved".
One of the recommendations of the plan sees the end of "all clerical structures dealing with general pastoral matters in the diocese" within the time of the medium-term plan.
Addressing the need for the church to change, the 18-page document says: "Instead of blaming society, we must emphasise the need for the church to change, for the church to act. Behind this is the clear understanding that a significant element of the problem lies within the church itself, and not just in society."
The plan states there is real concern, sadness and anxiety at the prospect of more parishes in the near future not having a resident priest.
In response to the declining number of priests, the plan has opted for the concept of a team of priests, religious and laity having joint responsibility for clusters of parishes rather than spreading priests thinly on the ground or bringing in foreign priests.
The plan states: "We believe that some form of team ministry would be acceptable to the people once there was a clear commitment to maintaining individual parishes no matter how small, and once people had a say in decisions about the future use of church buildings in their parishes."
