Modern Irish society through the decline of the Catholic Church

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Modern Irish society through the decline of the Catholic Church

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Abstract

The Catholic Church has had a central part in the Irish society's life and identity since its independence in 1922. The State conceded huge areas of social policy to the Catholic Church. By linking patriotism with morality, the Church acquired a complete control over politic, cultural, social and economic matters. However, this is no longer the case and the Church is now directly influenced by the other countries. Through a series of examples in different areas, we will show how the Irish modern Society has changed, through the decline of its central power: the Roman Catholic Church. In Ireland, there used to be a peaceful cooperation between the Church (moral teaching) and the State (laws) . However in front of the weakened Church, the State has begun to gain more and more power and no longer supports the institutions of the Church. The State has proved its growing independence in building its own schools, hospitals, and welfare systems.

Introduction.
Political changes.
1. The relationship between the State and the Church.
2. The scandals.
Cultural changes.
1. The constitution.
2. The media.
3. The women, the family, the education.
Economic changes.
1. The 'Celtic Tiger'.
2. The European Union.
Social changes.
1. The abortion's debate.
2. The contraception's debate.
3. The divorce' debate.
4. Others.
Conclusion.
Bibliography.

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[...] Ireland.com, the Irish Times. (Number with religion” in North increases). [Online]. Available from: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/1122/3258781752HM8RELIGIO N.html [accessed 05 March 2006]. Mac Carthy P. (Abortion in Ireland Historical Perspective and current campaigning). [Online]. Available from: http://struggle.ws/talks/abort_irl.html [accessed 17 February 2006]. Quinn D. (Books in review: Ireland's Holy Wars: The Struggle for a Nation's Soul). [Online]. Available from: http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0203/reviews/quinn.html [accessed 18 March 2006]. Rte.ie. of Irish Catholics attend mass: survey). [Online]. Available from: http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0925/religion.html [accessed 21 March 2006]. Spiked. (Why Ireland said no). [...]

[...] Savage R.J & Smith J.M Sexual Abuse and The Irish Church: Crisis and Responses. [Online]. Available from: http://escholarship.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=chu rch21_papers [accessed 07 March 2006]. Waghorne R. An Emerging Conflict: A Survey of Church & State in Ireland. [Online]. Available from: http://freedominst.org/churchstate.pdf [accessed 09 February 2006]. Wood, K Women priests: where has it led? [Online]. Available from: http://www.thepost.ie/post/pages/home.aspx-qqqt%3D-qqqs%3Dnav- qqqx%3D1x-qqqt%3D-qqqs%3Dnews-qqqx%3D1.asp [accessed 07 March 2006]. Inglis p.77. Inglis p Coakley & Gallagher p Brown p Brown p Lee, 1989.p Savage R.J & Smith J.M Inglis p.257. [...]

[...] We can conclude that the conservative clerical church of the 1950s which was highly respected, and unquestioned, seems to fade away as time goes by. Indeed, the society does no longer need to associate their independence from Britain with a strong assertion to the Church. It is now able to listen to other voices than the Church. Moreover, the Irish's reaction seems to be against the dominance of the “intolerant and open-mindedness”[44] of the past. However, recent surveys show that 87% of the population still declare themselves Catholics and want a religious education for their children[45]. [...]

[...] Nonetheless, the Preamble of the Constitution still remains, and refers to the Church: the name of the most Holy Trinity”.[12] Hence, this is the role of the Church as an Institution which is in crisis today The media Secondly, the media played a great part in the change of the Irish modern society[13]. During the 1960s, through the extension of the popular press, radio, and television, people were confronted to new ideas. American and English television programs invaded Ireland, broke censorship and spread the western culture (for example, talk shows about the sexual abuses in the 1990s: Sinners). [...]

[...] Articles Broadbent B Women, the Church and the Law. [Online]. Available from: http://www.wsrt.com.au/seachanges/volume2/html/broadbent.html [accessed 21 March 2006]. Crotty W The Catholic Church in Ireland, with reference to Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. [Online]. Available from: http://www.csd.neu.edu/TheCatholicChurchinIrelandApril2004.pdf [accessed 11 March 2006]. Daniszewski, J Catholicism Losing Ground in Ireland. [Online]. Available from: http://www.latimes.com/ [accessed 08 March 2006]. Holland, K Twenty years of antenatal politics. [Online]. Available from: http://www.ireland.com/ [accessed 13 March 2006]. McConnell D & Byrne C Priests call for end to celibacy. [Online]. [...]

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