Archbishop admits misogyny is still present in Church
THE country’s most senior Catholic bishop has admitted that misogyny “is present in the Church” and warned there was a danger that an all-male priesthood could become “a men’s club”.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin recalled his time in Rome and said: “There was a misogynist culture there in the Vatican.
“Misogyny is really about men feeling that they are in charge; feeling that they have particular rights,” he said.
In an interview with RTÉ Radio’s Miriam O’Callaghan, he added that “I think all of us have to examine our consciences to see where we are on this.”
Asked by O’Callaghan whether he thought he would see female priests in his own lifetime, Dr Martin replied: “No.”
However, he stressed that he would like there to be “a much stronger female presence in the Church” and he said he believed this was “achievable, even with a male priesthood”.
“Misogyny is a sign of human immaturity and that is a worry.
“If there are priests who are misogynists, then it means that they are not mature in themselves and that they haven’t ever had healthy relations with women or don’t understand that.”
He warned that everyone had to “be very careful about our use of language”.
Separately speaking to the Irish Independent at the Pro Cathedral after Easter Sunday Mass, the archbishop highlighted that former president Mary McAleese had quoted his remarks on women’s low standing in the Church and alienation during her address in Rome.
Elsewhere in his interview with RTÉ, Dr Martin, who is president of the World Meeting of Families gathering in August, said there was no way that the Pope wouldn’t address the issue of clerical abuse and meet survivors when he comes to Ireland in August.
He broke down as he recalled the day the Tuam babies story broke and he had to tell Pope Francis of this “terrible story emerging about children’s bodies being found”.
He said that the Pope had been “visibly upset” by this.
Of the recent revelations of child sexual abuse by Dromore priest Fr Malachy Finegan, Dr Martin described the stories that are emerging as “horrendous”.
“I know a lot of people covered up or they didn’t talk or were afraid to talk.
“But, as I say, let the truth come out,” he said.
On the forthcoming papal visit, he said he would like it to be inclusive – and that he would like the pontiff to learn something about the Travelling community.
He said that this was “a com-
munity that has the highest child mortality and the lowest life expectancy, and large numbers in prison”.
He stressed that the Pope would be making only a short visit. “I’m worried that some of the protocol issues will take more time than meeting with the poor,” he said.
Dr Martin described Pope Francis as “a complex figure, not all smiles” who was “in nobody’s pocket”.
Meanwhile, it emerged that taxpayers are to foot the bill of more than €1m that will be spent on security cameras and communication equipment during the Pope’s visit here.
Tenders
The Office of Government Procurement is seeking tenders for what it terms a “managed solution for papal visit 2018” to provide CCTV cameras, and a temporary public address system, as well as walkie-talkies and audio and television equipment. The systems are to be in place for the Pope’s visit to the Phoenix Park, which is happening on August 26 and in which he will conduct an openair Mass at the Papal Cross.
The tender also calls for the same set-up at Dublin Castle, although no further details of the Pope’s itinerary have been announced.
The tenders are valued at €1.2m, excluding VAT. The deadline for applying for the tender is May 3.