THE VIEW FROM THE STREETS

Each week, we hit the streets of County Wexford to ask the public their thoughts on a range of subjects... this week: Is it time for the Catholic Church to allow womenbecomepriests?

SHARON DONOHOE, CLONEGAL

‘I think so yes. I think a lot more people would probably go to mass too if there were women priests. Why shouldn’t there be at this stage?’

CRAIG MURPHY TOBIN

‘It wouldn’t make a difference to me. It wouldn’t bother me if it was a man or a woman at the altar.’

CAROLINE MONAGHAN, WEXFORD

‘I think the Catholic Church should allow women to become priests. It should be open to women to join the priesthood, if they want to, especially when the number of male vocations is reducing.’

ELEANOR GRIFFITHS, WILLOW PARK

‘Definitely. Priests should be allowed marry too.’

OLIVE THORPE, NEW ROSS

‘I suppose it’s up to the Catholic Church at the end of the day. The Methodist Church was the first to have women. I think they could run out of men.’

BERNADETTE HAYES, FETHARD-ON-SEA

‘I think they would do a very good job in the same way we do a good job on everything.’

AILISH BUCH, WEXFORD TOWN

‘Yes. They haven’t got any priests left. They’re having to bring priests in from Africa to work in parishes in Ireland. I think women would make better priests. They would have more of an understanding of family life.’

NOELEEN CULLEN, GOREY

‘We have female deacons so I don’t see a problem with having female priests. I think women would have quite a lot to contribute.’

PAT KELLY, ENNISCORTHY

‘I think it’s long overdue to be honest. I think it will be a case of having to. I definitely think it’s the way to go.’

BRIDGET DROUGHT, ARTHURSTOWN

‘Of course they should. There is a shortage of men so why not. Who’s to say we wouldn’t do a better job.’

DAVID DOYLE, WEXFORD TOWN

‘Why not. What’s the difference between a woman and a man. I think they should let women become priests. I think women would be very good at it.’

MATT KAVANAGH, CLONATTIN

‘They’re not going to have much choice so I’d be for it. We’re going to end up with no male priests so they’re going to have to do something.’

INGA MAHER, ENNISCORTHY

‘I think so yes. It’s probably time that it happened and International Women’s Day is good too. It’s a big celebration.’

SEAN STAFFORD, RAMSGRANGE

‘No, I don’t think so.’

STEPHANIE MCCABE, CLONARD

‘I think it was time to allow women to become priests 20 years ago. I almost feel like they’ve left it too long. To make the decision now, in order to make the church more relevant, would seem like too little too late.’

PAUL SHERIDAN, DOIRE FEA

‘I’m in favour of them, yes. Sure, why not?’

ALAN MAHER, ENNISCORTHY

‘I think it probably is time for them to do it. I don’t see why not and I think women would do a good job.’

MARIE GRIFFIN, NEW ROSS

‘No, not really because women get pregnant and have families. They should allow priests to marry as then they could relate more to people. It’s a full-time job.’

MARIE PURFIELD, WEXFORD

‘Yes, they should allow women to be what they want to be. I think they would make very good priests. They don’t have enough priests so it makes sense to allow women to join the priesthood.’

CARLO DUGGAN, NEWBOROUGH

‘Yes, I wouldn’t mind that at all.’