After living in Ireland for a month, I have realized the integral nature of Catholicism in the nation's daily life. Down the road from my apartment is a beautiful neighborhood church, with bells that ring every morning, and that stands as the central focal point for giving directions in the area. In fact, there are similar churches in nearly every neighborhood here. Many of the main tourist sites are churches and cathedrals, and daily discussions of the faith remain a constant undercurrent of Irish society: last week's paper highlighted the close relationship between the Office of the Taoiseach (the prime minister) and the Catholic hierarchy.
This observation is consistent with the country's history. Ireland has always been a staunchly Catholic nation, and for the past 150 years (as long as statistics have been kept), at least 89 percent of Irish have called themselves Catholic; 91.6 percent still consider themselves Catholic today. The religion has significantly influenced the politics of the country, determining what types of laws were (or were not) passed, such as those outlawing divorce and abortion, and many political parties cater to the Catholic hierarchy to gain their vocal support during elections. The two major issues in the modern history of the country, in fact, are even related to the faith: Catholics were repressed in Ireland for centuries, leading them to seek independence and rebel repeatedly against their British rulers; additionally, one critical reason for the division between Northern Ireland and the rest of the island is the issue of Catholicism against Protestantism.
Yet despite the obvious connection between Ireland and Catholicism (indeed, a connection nearly every outsider makes automatically), faith seems on the decline in the country. True, the numbers of those calling themselves Catholic remains high, but this is exactly the point. While many people in Ireland feel Catholic, in reality they are Catholic in name only, or are what could be termed pick-and choose practitioners of the religion. Active participation in the Church and strict adherence to Catholic morals have dropped. Divorce has been legalized, nearly two-thirds of all Irish are in favor of gay marriage, and methods of contraception are readily available, all of which were controversial issues for Ireland only decades ago.
There are a variety of reasons for this dramatic shift. The decade-long booming economy has led to major changes in society. More and more Irish are now connected to the outside world, moving them away from their traditional views of life and the expected obedience to their parish priest. The internet is now readily available, the tariffs on imported international newspapers (a decision made by the Church and the government to keep people from reading scandalous material) is no longer a barrier to obtaining them, and travel through Europe and the rest of the world is much more common. The strong economy has also created a huge influx of immigration to Ireland, again bringing exposure to the world outside the island. New viewpoints have spread through the Irish system, challenging the old ways of life. Finally, fewer non-believers are emigrating from the country. Before, Catholicism was really the only option for all Irish; either one was truly Catholic and (thus) truly Irish, or one was in a dubious middle ground that the majority of people disliked and disrespected. The exposure to the outside world has diminished this "with us or against us" attitude, making diversity more common and unquestioning faith in the Church less important. After centuries of allegiance to the Catholic Church, fewer and fewer Irish see the need to maintain this devotion.
Despite these changes, Ireland is still for all intents and purposes a Catholic country, with more conservative values and more traditional beliefs than most states. Yet the possibility of future greater divergence from Catholicism remains, as the economy continues to grow and the Irish continue to explore and connect with the world beyond the Emerald Isle. In the end, Irish people will always adhere to their Catholic identity, but the actual depth of their faith may never return to the Catholic glory days of old.
Yet despite the obvious connection between Ireland and Catholicism (indeed, a connection nearly every outsider makes automatically), faith seems on the decline in the country. True, the numbers of those calling themselves Catholic remains high, but this is exactly the point. While many people in Ireland feel Catholic, in reality they are Catholic in name only, or are what could be termed pick-and choose practitioners of the religion. Active participation in the Church and strict adherence to Catholic morals have dropped. Divorce has been legalized, nearly two-thirds of all Irish are in favor of gay marriage, and methods of contraception are readily available, all of which were controversial issues for Ireland only decades ago.
There are a variety of reasons for this dramatic shift. The decade-long booming economy has led to major changes in society. More and more Irish are now connected to the outside world, moving them away from their traditional views of life and the expected obedience to their parish priest. The internet is now readily available, the tariffs on imported international newspapers (a decision made by the Church and the government to keep people from reading scandalous material) is no longer a barrier to obtaining them, and travel through Europe and the rest of the world is much more common. The strong economy has also created a huge influx of immigration to Ireland, again bringing exposure to the world outside the island. New viewpoints have spread through the Irish system, challenging the old ways of life. Finally, fewer non-believers are emigrating from the country. Before, Catholicism was really the only option for all Irish; either one was truly Catholic and (thus) truly Irish, or one was in a dubious middle ground that the majority of people disliked and disrespected. The exposure to the outside world has diminished this "with us or against us" attitude, making diversity more common and unquestioning faith in the Church less important. After centuries of allegiance to the Catholic Church, fewer and fewer Irish see the need to maintain this devotion.
Despite these changes, Ireland is still for all intents and purposes a Catholic country, with more conservative values and more traditional beliefs than most states. Yet the possibility of future greater divergence from Catholicism remains, as the economy continues to grow and the Irish continue to explore and connect with the world beyond the Emerald Isle. In the end, Irish people will always adhere to their Catholic identity, but the actual depth of their faith may never return to the Catholic glory days of old.
About the Author
Opens in a new window