IRELAND
Irish Independent

Colum Kenny
Published 14/09/2014

‘Sing a new song to the Lord”. That’s the motto of the new head of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Last week, Eamon Martin became Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland when Cardinal Sean Brady stepped down.

Like many priests and nuns he is committed to helping people who are isolated, lonely, ill and anxious.

But a Catholic Church that really strikes a new note will do much more than that. It must offer all people hope by being believable itself. …

If Irish bishops really want to set an encouraging example, the hierarchy should be seen to engage in a process of honest self-criticism of its institutions and its doctrines, a process leading to real and painful changes. Instead, the Irish hierarchy still sounds like it’s singing off an old hymn sheet.

Archbishop Martin was full of…