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Post by brencel on Feb 25, 2011 19:56:17 GMT
The full Address by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to the Cambridge Group for Irish Studies, Magdalene College, Cambridge, “Keeping the Show on the Road", is this the future of the Irish Catholic Church? can be found at: www.irishpriests.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1663:10-february-2011&catid=17:newsIn this address he talks about the change which is needed in the Church and acknowledges that he is “failing in my attempts to lead such change”. The tone suggests that he will not be Archbishop of Dublin for much longer. In fact, after this statement, see excerpt below, it is difficult to see how he could remain in his current position. “The change that has taken place in Irish culture requires radical change in the life of the Church of such an extent that in the face of it even experts in change management would feel daunted. Certainly I would have to say that despite all my efforts I am failing in my attempts to lead such change. Change management has to have the patience and the strategy to bring everyone along with it and that may not be my talent.” Martin's departure would cause a huge rupture in the Church and begs the question who will replace him?
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Post by hibernicus on Mar 1, 2011 13:59:56 GMT
This statement has certainly attracted some attention, but I wonder is there a touch ofspin about it. Some of the Archbishop's critics suggest he is more concerned about promoting his image as the Lone Ranger facing opponents whom he never precisely identifies than about digging in for the long term. That said, I'm not sure who could replace him, because the media would spin his departure as a triumph for reactionaries and any replacement would be demonised by the RTE-IRISH TIMES axis to such an extent that it would bedifficult to get a counter-message across. Moreover the likely replacements seem to be either mediocre, cowed by the scandals and the media, or both.
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Post by brencel on Mar 2, 2011 14:08:32 GMT
Diarmuid Martin was brought in from outside Ireland. He was previously in the Vatican diplomatic corps.
It is probable that his replacement would come from a similar source to ensure he is not tainted by the “Irish problem”.
The alternative, as hibernicus says, would involve choosing from local candidates who are “either mediocre, cowed by the scandals and the media, or both.”
Let us hope and trust that the Pope is guided by the Holy Spirit to pick the candidate who can best effect radical change and reform in the Dublin diocese and hopefully inspire the rest of the bishops and dioceses in the country to do the same.
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Post by hibernicus on Mar 11, 2011 12:26:51 GMT
I think Archbishop Martin has stated that he meant he did not possess all these qualities single-handed, not that they were not available to the church or that he was going to resign. The supply of Irish priests based outside ireland is limited, and likely to become more so in the future. Everything depends on reforming the style of formation at Maynooth, an enterprise which strikes me as a long shot - once a particular culture is entrenched it is very hard to displace other than by wholesale purging, and I doubt if the stomach is there forit (especially given that Maynooth is controlled by te bishops as a body, rather than a single bishop who might be better able to take decisive action.)
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Post by brencel on Mar 17, 2011 22:48:29 GMT
hibernicus, is correct when he says "I think Archbishop Martin has stated that he meant he did not possess all these qualities single-handed, not that they were not available to the church or that he was going to resign."
However, I believe the Archbishop is being ingenious as he had earlier said "I am failing in my attempts to lead such change" which one would have thought included failure to lead others with the qualities needed.
Unfortunately, the rest of hibernicus's post sounds only too true!
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