Too easily and often we give up talking to one another

In his 12 page report to Irish Dominicans, the Master of the Order, Bruno Cadoré, when talking about 'fraternal life' firstly mentions that in order to have conversation with the Word and a conversation with the world about the Word, Dominicans have to be able and willing to have a conversation among themselves.

In making that comment Cadoré gets to the heart of one of the central problems of the institutional church in Ireland.

Anyone who is a serious observer of the Irish Catholic Church will see for themselves how broken and dysfunctional relationships, at all levels, can be within the church.

Maybe there never was a conformity of thinking and it was cleverly covered up. But certainly today there is a number of factions and groups, all with different opinions and views. One group 'sneering' at the other. One group claiming authenticity over another. People with  different theologies. People simply not talking to one another but always talking about one another. And then the great silences, where people say nothing. Often miscalculated as 'wisdom'.

And that's right across priesthood and religious life.

How often do bishops and provinicals seriously engage with their fellow priests in real, open and honest conversation? How often do priests engage with their bishops and provincials?

When do parish priests really engage with the people who come to their churches?

How virbrant are parish councils?

Bruno Cadoré says: "Too often we give up easily on conversing with one another."

Inspiring words and I too am guilty.