Sir, – Fr Tony Byrne ("A compassionate church can never be doomed", Rite & Reason, May 24th) attempts to compare the church to a swan, while Hannah Gumbrielle (May 25th) seems to think that the ostrich may be a better comparison.
I am unsure as to which bird, if any, I would compare the church. However, your editorial paints a very bleak future and notes attendances are sinking dramatically (“Crisis confronts main churches”, May 23rd).
Fr Byrne maintains that a compassionate church can never be doomed. I admire his optimism. Or is it his faith?
According to Fr Byrne, the compassionate church is very much in evidence at times of tragedy and loss, and by and large he is correct in that the response of the church (in all its denominations) is warm and supportive and appreciated by people who are hurting.
While I know a number of priests and even bishops who live in a genuinely compassionate way, sadly this virtue does not seem to permeate the institutional church easily.
Where is the compassionate church when it comes to silencing priests who challenge the church to give an account of itself and its teaching? Where is the compassion for those who for reasons of conscience leave ministry after 20 or 30 years and hear only silence from the official church? Where is the compassionate church when it refuses without reason to talk about the issue of women priests or married clergy, never mind countenance their introduction?
What of the hundreds and thousands of men and women who gave their best years to the church and are left without recognition, acknowledgement or gratitude, or in many cases appropriate financial support?
The editorial and survey provide much food for thought. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN MORIARTY,
Finglas,
Dublin 11.