Sir, – Having attended the opening ceremony on Sunday, I left with an uplifting feeling of spiritual well-being and hope. The crowd that had gathered represented a very broad church – young, old, families, Chinese, Africans, Canadians, Indians, American – people from all over the world. The ceremony was simple and touched everyone who was there.
The flags and banners of countries, counties and dioceses set the scene for a wonderful pageant that people participated in with great enthusiasm. Those attending were full of faith, hope and renewal that the Catholic Church is on the path to recovery.
As Archbishop Martin said, this is the beginning for a smaller but stronger church in Ireland facing a challenging future. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – June 10th will be remembered by many for the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. The logo of the congress, “people in communion” represents, the designer Martin Barlow explains, “Our sense of community, belonging, celebration and acceptance [which] is captured in the design by the graphic representation of the people with both arms outstretched”.
My fear is that the Eucharistic Congress is only really for those deemed in good standing with the church who are thus “allowed” to partake of the Eucharist.
A study of the week’s programme appears to offer nothing to address “exclusion”. The greatest evil of the Catholic Church clergy sexual abuse excluded hundreds and thousands of people in Ireland from “communion” with the church they feel betrayed by. They have walked away. Clergy sexual abuse is addressed by only one speaker; Archbishop Luis Antonio G Tagle of the Philippines. His presentation title reads “the abuse of children, accepting responsibility and bringing healing” .
Survivors are not in need of “healing” (at least not by the church, this is patronising); they are in need of justice. A healing model consigns victims to a dysfunctional “sick” role. Justice speaks of communion. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse, as people of God, if in “communion” with the church would overturn the centuries of clericalism, arrogance and power that has been the pattern in Ireland and worldwide.
Survivors know that their “communion” with the church is not really wanted. For what “communion” brings is equality, respect, sharing and love and the church decides who it really wants “communion” with.
It therefore seems to me that the Eucharistic Congress, despite the rhethoric of “people in communion” will appeal only to those willing to have “communion” under oppression, power and regulation by the Vatican.
Those marginalised, “downgraded”, and a thorn in the side of the institution, such as the nuns silenced in America, the priests silenced in Ireland, clergy sexual abuse survivors silenced worldwide, women excluded from priesthood, divorced and re-married excluded from the Eucharist and gay people vilified for their sexuality need not apply.
Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and in need of rest.” We have a very long way to go to be truly a church of “communion”. – Yours, etc,