I would feel today that the death of Catholicism has got worse and the dysfunctionality has got worse since 2017. Sinead O’Connor wasn’t smothered by the bureaucracy in the Church, the language that we use as clerics and the things that we have almost accepted as part of the deal – she didn’t have that.
It didn’t suit us of course. I think the fact she was a woman – a comparatively young woman and not part of the institution – that was one of the reasons why we said “that’s just Sinead going off on a sort of a rant”. The reality was she was speaking a truth about the sexual abuse crisis in the Church and a dark truth that we continue to really grapple with.
Her correct contention in my view was that the rot went all the way to the top. When we go down the road of specifically talking about victims, a particular religious order or institution – and we need to do that; I’m not dismissing that. But the reality is this is a much wider endemic problem and it’s fundamentally connected with clerical celibacy and the Church’s dysfunctional position on sexuality.
The Church has taught beautiful things about sexuality and there are certainly aspects of John Paul II’s theology of the body – nobody would deny that. Unfortunately, we’re not good at talking about the joy of celibacy and tend to present it in terms of our cross type of thing. It’s rare enough that we talk about the joy it brings, the freedom it brings when it’s lived well – whatever that means. I’m not sure that anyone can claim to live it well so it’s a struggle.
But in actual fact she was right that it’s not just about sexual abuse – it’s wider than that. It’s an issue of celibacy but also a much wider issue of the Church’s position on all sorts of aspects of sexuality.
On the impact of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church
For me the sexual abuse crisis is the most pressing problem. It comes into the whole broader concept of the Synod. My concern is that Pope Francis, whom I love and think is a wonderful leader, and I think the whole synodal process has given great hope and expectation. But I know people who are committed Catholics and have been throughout the years even with the dips and turns and they have talked about it being the last chance. Now I’m not sure what that means but it’s almost like they’re saying that the Church has given them great hope for renewal and reform – please don’t let us down. It feels like we’re being led up to the top of the hill.
On whether or not World Youth Day is important and the Church’s uncertain future
I’d be supportive of World Youth Day and not to sound cynical but I’ve met people who have gone multiple times and they get a lot out of it but I’m not sure that it has proven to be a great source of renewal nor increase in priestly vocations in Ireland and I’m not necessarily saying that this is the measure of health.
The reality is however that if we continue to have no priests there won’t be a celebration of the Eucharist. In all of these meetings discussing the future of the Church, we have to say what will happen afterwards. I think that’s one of our problems as an institution. To me the whole organisation is like an albatross flapping its wings in mud and getting heavier.
On being perceived as too negative at times
People have said to me in the past that I’m so negative and why don’t I get out of the Church. I regret coming across as negative, it was never the intention. I do think cynicism, which I’m sure I am guilty of at times, is a real enemy of the soul and horrible. The older we get, the more we have to resist it.
On future ambitions for the Church
My hope is very specific – it’s Christo-centric and rooted in what I would consider as the need for a rediscovery of the person of Jesus of Nazareth. It excites me and any time I take time to talk to people about it and try to do more and more, I emphasise the unique personal relationship with Jesus which people really don’t believe is possible and dismiss it. They have only interpreted Jesus as the historical Jesus instead of the cosmic.
I think what will emerge are small Christo-centric communities which I believe will carry it through to another phase. I’m not taking away the bona fides – our own archbishop has wonderful qualities – but even in the short time he has become archbishop and is really doing wonderful stuff, has already become weighed down by the massive job of shutting up shop in so many different places. Who would take it? It’s a most horrible position to be in.
On the dispiriting condition of contemporary Catholicism
I’ve often sat on a Saturday or Sunday evening looking at the week ahead after making all sorts of plans and suddenly you have five funerals and the week is utterly changed. I have a friend who was on her provincial leadership team and I could see a change in her personality even over 18 months. The whole thing is about closure, letting go, death, retirement homes, cost of looking after elderly sisters. If you’re dealing with that all the time, I mean it was always part of the deal but beside that in the past you had novices, postulants, a novitiate and a formation programme.
Take all of that invigorating, life-inspiring stuff out and you’re left with a reminder of the hymn at night prayer: ‘Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me’. You’d really need to be clinging on to something in the crumbling edifice.
Fr Joe McDonald has been a teacher, a religious and, for the past 10 years, a priest of the Dublin diocese. Over the past few years he has been a regular guest on The Late Debate, Tonight with Vincent Browne and Claire Byrne Live. A native of west Belfast, he is currently parish priest in Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
