Tony Flannery

The Bishops, the Government and the Sacraments

I was quite surprised, indeed taken aback, when bishops first announced that they were going to ignore medical and governmental directives, and begin to celebrate the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. 

The fact that among the early ones out of the traps were Elphin, Waterford and Meath made it a little less surprising. They would typically be the ones on the more conservative end of the hierarchy, and, especially with Elphin and Waterford, with a tendency to go it alone.

Who would want to be a Bishop?

Indeed, who would want to be a bishop? The grapevine suggests that many are refusing the request, and that is no surprise. The experience of the latest recruit to the ranks, even in his first week, would give anyone food for thought, and caution about saying yes.

I knew Ger Nash well in the days when I was allowed to minister, (before the women’s issue in the Catholic Church undid me)  and always both liked him, and was impressed by him, his commitment, his work rate, and his care for people.

Now that the proposed Synodal Assembly is coming into focus, and the Irish Bishops, at their next meeting taking place in June, are due to appoint a committee who will be central to the organisation of the event over the next few years, we need to be thinking clearly about what is being proposed.

For myself, I would love to see this whole event being a success, because I believe the future of the Church in Ireland will depend to a fair degree on how successful it will be.