The Frontline Blog

The future of the Catholic Church in Ireland

Monday, 07 Dec 2009
The Frontline Team

With the newspapers and our own newsroom reporting that Bishop Murray is set to resign later today, we’re looking beyond the immediate.

Tonight we’ll look at the impact the child sexual abuse scandal will have on the Church, and society’s attitude to it.

In the audience will be victims of clerical abuse, representatives of priests, committed Catholics, regular mass-goers, humanists, atheists and a number of people who hold other alternative outlooks. Irish Times columnist and secondary school teacher, Breda O’Brien will be on the panel alongside historian, Diarmuid Ferriter and Father Joe Mullan, Chair of the Council of Priests.

We’ll be asking what future does the Catholic Church have in Ireland? Has the reaction to the Murphy Report from members of the clergy thus far been sufficient? Where do we go from here?

Hope we hear from you at the usual time of 1030, in the usual place, RTÉ One.

During the show you can contact us in two ways online. Either email us at thefrontline@rte.ie or send us a tweet at @RTEfrontline to let us know what you think...

Looking forward to hearing from you. Enjoy the show.

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Comments:

It is a distortion to insinuate that the rape and torture of children in Ireland by the Roman Catholic Church is some sort of aberration. The Catholic Church has been producing sexual predators for centuries. It's is in the history books. The crime of solicitation was in response to complaints of Roman clerics taking advantage of women and children through the "sacrament" of Confession.

Posted by Noel Grainger on December 07, 2009 at 11:30 PM GMT #

Good Evening! just watching your program and cannot help but express my opinion. I come from Poland and i need to say, that if it wasn’t because of Catholic Church i probably won’t be able to come to this beautiful country and people in my East Europe would not be able to enjoy freedom, we have today. God and Church lead us through offul time and help us to surrvive. Because of that it's difficult for me to say that i'll never go to church in Ireland! It destroys qualities i believe in and acts against freedom and dignity of humankind! I think, that it should be separated from any sort of education, as it doesn't represent anything i would want my children to believe in. Unfortunately, because in this, very difficult time we live now, it would be needed more then ever!!! I’m waiting for the school of Michael Collins or/and de Valera one, so I can bring children up to be patriots and have good role models to follow. Regards SAbina Cendrzak

Posted by Sabina on December 07, 2009 at 11:33 PM GMT #

While we unreservedly condemn the heinous crimes of a minority within the Catholic Church, to witness the grief of individuals being hijacked by the anti-religious for their own nefarious purposes is nothing short of sickening.

Posted by Mujaahid on December 07, 2009 at 11:51 PM GMT #

I'm a married man with two small children. I have attended mass regularly all my life. In the past I had argued that you would not blame all teachers if one or two had commited acts of child abuse. What has been exposed is a corrupt church hierarchy. Power has corrupted absolutely. The audience member, Mary, is an example of so many mothers of a previous generation desperately trying to hang on to a belief system that they have invested in their whole lives in. I understand her fear. But it is born of ignorance.I want to pass my faith onto my kids but can do it with no conviction while bishops hide and the Vatican remains silent.Where have all the good priests gone.Religion is a little like politics. Its local.Normal decent good priests need to step up to the mark.They need to speak out.I thought it was a vocation, not a career.Catholics need leadership.They need to see goodness prevail.Good men have stood by and done nothing.Let them make ammends.Wake up and lead the people back to their faith. Christian teachings are above reproach.The catholic hierarchy unfortunately is not. I am mad.My wife looks on as a spectator unsure of how to react.It was her mothers faith.She does not want to disappoint her by turning away.Where are all the good priests gone.Speak up, speak out. To hell with Rome.

Posted by Frank O'Sullivan on December 08, 2009 at 12:42 AM GMT #

As a church going catholic all my life, I ask the question, Where do I go now? I cannot pass on my faith to my children now with any conviction. I will pass on Christian values but the teachings that are unique to the catholic church are worth nothing to me now.

Posted by Frank O'Sullivan on December 08, 2009 at 12:50 AM GMT #

i watched the programme on monday and was disgusted to see that lady mary talking as she does on our local radio station about this religious rubbish this is the lady that went into a shop and complained that a valentines card showing to people holding hands as porn. i am disgusted with the findings of the report into the dublin diocese.i myself studied for the priesthood but because i did not conform and asked questions i got sent for phyic assessment. those who were named in the report should be jailed

Posted by john Mc Cullagh on December 09, 2009 at 01:53 AM GMT #

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