From 1962-65 almost all bishops of the Catholic Church met in Rome to consider the problem of how we Catholics should relate to our own era. Many of us who paid attention back then foresaw radical change in how the church would organise its internal and external relationships. We based this expectation on passages such as the following from the Council's dogmatic constitution on the church, Lumen Gentium:
“The pastors, indeed, should recognize and promote the dignity and responsibility of the laity in the Church. They should willingly use their prudent advice and confidently assign duties to them in the service of the Church, leaving them freedom and scope for acting. Indeed, they should give them the courage to undertake works on their own initiative. They should with paternal love consider attentively in Christ initial moves, suggestions and desires proposed by the laity. Moreover the pastors must respect and recognize the liberty which belongs to all in the terrestrial city.” (LG 37)
Almost a half century later this vision remains almost completely unrealised in Ireland, while the clerical system that remains in control of the church is facing a deep crisis of continuity. Only in Dublin are clergy required by their bishop to establish parish pastoral councils, while elsewhere the only signs of change seem to be dictated by the obvious need to adjust to rapidly declining numbers of priests.
Meanwhile younger generations show little sign of attachment to the church as their grandparents knew it. We face a radical Irish Catholic crisis of continuity at the very moment the church's designated leadership seems unable to set an agenda that is not centred on its own scandalous failure to safeguard the children of the church from sexual abuse.
Simultaneously Ireland is riveted by possibly its deepest secular crisis since the foundation of the Irish Republic. The foundations of the global financial system have apparently collapsed - and simultaneously our trust in our own economic and political leadership has collapsed also. The house we considered safe was founded on sand in Ireland also - a boundless appetite for treasure measured solely in money. Political leadership raised no serious questions about a financial culture that abhorred serious regulation and restraint, and now that same political leadership lacks the power to convince as it looks for remedies.
How should we Catholics respond to this dual crisis of church and society? How are we to set an agenda together that can mobilise our hopes and our energies in addressing both of these crises effectively?
The answer surely lies in the unrealised promise of Vatican II. The convening of the Irish people of God to shoulder responsibility for our own church together is long overdue. The half centenary of Vatican II must not pass without the gift of the council being recognised and fully embraced.
And if the official leadership of the Irish church cannot recognise and respond to that gift, it will finally be time for the people of God ourselves to abandon our passive role, to meet together in prayer to learn from the council and to respond proactively to the great commandment of our founder: "Love God above all things, and your neighbour as yourself!"
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