Priests, religious congregations and committed Catholics in Ireland resent being "unfairly under attack as they live out their faith and their ministry generously and with dedication", Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
He said there appeared to be a “culture of relentless reminding the church of the sins of its members”. He said at times this culture appeared to be “painting every individual and every moment in the history of the church with the same condemnation” .
“I notice a certain justified resentment among priests and religious [congregations] and committed Catholics at somehow being unfairly under attack as they live out their faith and their ministry generously and with dedication.
“There is a sense in which they feel that it is time to stand up and respond, ”he said.
Archbishop Martin was speaking at the ordination of Carmelite priest Fr James Eivers in Terenure College in Dublin.
Although supporters of the church may be frustrated by this, he said the response cannot be to deny the mistakes and the wrongdoings of the past or get into unfruitful or polemical quarrel.
“Evil is conquered by goodness; nastiness by love; dishonesty by truth; corruption by integrity.”
