Synod asks for lived experiences without listening to the answers
Dear Editor, After twenty years within the Irish Catholic Church — and the equivalent time within the German Catholic Church — I have lost hope in many ways. The further I can move away from institutional Church life, the happier I think I am.
After about eight World Youth Days, endless pastoral council meetings, team meetings, listening sessions — both as participant and facilitator — I have no doubt that I have “done my time,” so to speak. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that your article on page two of The Irish Catholic (May 28) hits the nail on the head.
The disconnect between those engaging with the Synod, those who have no idea it is happening, those who could not care less, those present, and those missing is shocking — but true.
I often summarise my experience of the Church like this:
Year after year we have called it something different — listening, building hope, synodality — all fancy words, but all asking very similar questions: “What is your favourite colour?”
At first, the people engaged answered honestly: red, blue, purple, green. But too often the published report afterwards talked about the colour black.
I have no idea what the Synod might or might not bring, because too many people are missing from the tables for it to engage with lived reality in a meaningful way. Perhaps when the whole thing collapses we might finally wake up and ask where it all went wrong.
Those moments of hope, when the Dublin Diocese trained lay men and women and invested in parish pastoral workers and volunteers, are well and truly over.
Which brings me back to what I believe is the real problem: why ask us for our lived experience if you have already decided that black is your favourite colour?
Yours etc,
Christina Malone
To walk in faith together, we must understand the basics first
Dear Editor, I write to congratulate Fr Andrew McMahon, a Dromore priest, on his reflections regarding the Lenten Synodal programme. I feel his words can be applied to the whole synodal process. The idea of walking together in faith and sharing that faith is an excellent idea provided people have a uniformed conscience and have knowledge of scripture, tradition and Church teaching.
I have read several reports stating that people no longer know the basics of their faith, and I know this to be true from sharing with many genuine, sincere, good people. They admittedly profess their lack of knowledge and understanding of the Mass, the sacraments, moral issues and so much more. They realise their education in faith matters was very weak and non-existent in some cases. I thank them for their honesty, but I assure them they are not to blame and it is still not too late to learn the treasures that our Catholic faith holds.
There are many other good resources available beginning with the catechism of the Catholic Church. So many parishes and dioceses have several programmes on offer that simplifies doctrine and explains the necessity of faith in this secular world. This paper and several magazines are means of helping people to have an informed conscience that will allow them to share the truth in love. The documents of Vatican II and above all the gospels are sources of much enlightenment that is needed to make the synodal process the great blessing it is meant to be. All of these sources are available to help the people of God to walk with each other in faith and love as we (they) follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit on this journey of renewal and hope.
Yours etc,
Sr Susan Evangelist
Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Considering the balance between taxation and ‘money in the pocket’
Dear Editor, An article by David Quinn in your May 14 edition, ‘The Catholic case for a tax-cut: it’s only fair’, raises important questions about how public spending and taxation should be approached in the interests of the common good. Catholic social teaching offers important guidance on how policymakers, politicians and voters should address issues that matter to present and future generations.
Some of the facts cited or implied in Mr Quinn’s article are incorrect. It is not the case that average-income workers in Ireland pay higher rates of taxation than their counterparts in similar European countries. A recent OECD study, ‘Taxing Wages in 2026 – the progressivity of labour taxes in OECD countries’, compares taxes on work, including personal income tax, USC in Ireland, and employee social insurance. It shows that workers on an average, or median, income of €60,000 in Ireland pay a lower share of their total labour income in such taxes than workers in a number of comparable countries. At the margin—that is, on the last euro earned—they also pay less than workers in countries such as Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Mr Quinn raises valid questions about how effectively public money is spent and how major projects are delivered. What he does not mention, however, is that gross income before taxes and transfers is highly unequal in Ireland. As a result, the State is left to do a great deal of heavy lifting if a more equitable outcome is to be achieved.
Every society must decide on the appropriate balance between taxation and ‘money in the pocket’. We can choose to have a little less disposable income in exchange for stronger public health services, better housing and other public goods. We can also choose to tax wealth and capital more heavily than labour. These are political choices, and Catholic and Christian perspectives should help to inform them. However, our first duty is to get the facts right.
Yours etc,
Tom Healy
Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny
Time to revise the words ‘sin’, ‘repent’ and ‘commandment’?
Dear Editor, These three words, in no way, convey their real meaning and, as a result, lack any true impact on the lives of most of us today.
‘Sin’. This is a lame translation from the Greek meaning ‘to miss the mark’. How beautiful, and infinitely more meaningful, it would be if, in the Confiteor, we changed ‘sinned’ to ‘missed the mark’. Then, we have a concrete experience of what we are talking about – ‘missed the mark in my thoughts, in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.’ Suddenly, we have a basis for examination of conscience – no more the ‘stealing sugar’ syndrome, and people ashamed to go to Confession because they do not know how to examine their conscience.
‘Repent’. Now, ‘repent’ like sin could be a cocktail, a dessert, anything really. But, again, it is a lame translation of the Greek meaning ‘to change our heart’. Again, it would give us a concrete vision of what is being asked of us.
‘Commandment’. ‘The Ten Commandments’ is just another example of lazy translation. Firstly, God respects the freedom of each of us. The word ‘commandment’ denies that. Then, let’s cast our minds back to the Garden of Eden when our ancestors were ‘commanded’ not to eat of a particular tree. The rest is history, but clearly a lesson, in this instance, not fully embraced by the Church. And, of course, the term is used by our critics to condemn us. These are a set of guidelines for a life of peace, health, happiness for all and, for believers, a way to closer, more fulfilling relationship with God and man. Could we not revisit it with ‘The Ten Words of Life’ or something similar. ‘Commandents’ in no way do any justice to the profound meaning and outcome enshrined in them.
Yours etc,
Malachy Duffin
Randalstown, Co. Antrim
A consultative process will not determine revelation
Dear Editor, Those of us old enough will remember the launch of Guinness Light as a famous marketing flop. The brewer spent heavily on market research but failed to poll older, die-hard Guinness drinkers. Something of the same process is evident in the clumsily-named “synodal pathway”. Most Irish Catholics — as you point out in your editorial of May 28 — have “no knowledge the process [is] underway at all.” The big decisions continue to be made at head office (Rome) and regional Chief Executive (Archbishop’s house) level. This concentration of power is not unusual in large multinational organisations. Big companies consult their customers (and the institutional Church the laity) in the same way that someone might consult their watch as opposed to consulting a spouse. Customers don’t determine company strategy. And congregations don’t determine revelation.
For you this is the “Synod that forgot to save the Church”. The Victorian Thomas Arnold said of his own Church: “The Church of England, as it now stands, no human power can save.”
We in Ireland have now reached the same pass. A consultative process may help our Church but it will not be the solution. Only the leadership of the bishops and the holiness of the faithful will see us through.
Yours etc,
John Redmond
Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin
Eulogies should be kept to under five minutes
Dear Editor, Of course the priest was right to cut it short. The whole country has got out of hand with eulogies being condoned far too long.
The Catholic Church does not allow eulogies at funeral Masses. If a eulogy is wanted, either keep it to five minutes if the priest permits, at the appropriate time not officially part of the Mass, or better, keep it to the graveside. Or if not, perhaps the family may want to consider not having a Requiem Mass, or preferably ask the priest to give some gentle but clear explanation of the reasons for this not being allowed. This issue is an example of the need for adult formation.
And now that I’ve read David Quinn’s article, he was spot on.
Yours etc,
Tina Thomas
Belfast, Co. Antrim