Aspirations and reality differ

The chairman of the Catholic Church's National Board for Safeguarding Children has called for a 'radical change' to the church's clericalism.

"Until clericalism is completely behind us, we are not going to see change," John Morgan said. He went on to say that "clericalism is the antithesis of what the church is supposed to be about".

Is it this clericalism that Dermot Martin is speaking about?

Is Mr Morgan saying there is a link between clericalism and what has happened?

While at face value what Mr Morgan is saying is great to see, the reality is something different.

What he says about the word 'lay' and 'cleric' is a powerful way of explaining the situation.

Right across church institutes there is a growing clericalism evolving. It is a most worrying trend. There seems to be a link between closet homosexuality and an exaggerated interst in liturgy. It is difficult to understand how young men can express great interest in old monastic traditions and at the same time be fully in touch with a world that espouses totally different interests and values. It also seems there is a move away from a real and honest interest in people and their daily struggles. Instead of praying with the people, there is the trend to replace the cloister and do the praying behind closed doors.

There is something profoundly worrying happening. People are talking about these developments, yet nothing is being done. More or less the old story with different chapters.