Friday, September 26, 2014

Dominicans in Drogheda

The decision to close the Dominican church and priory in Drogheda is the lead story in this week's Drogheda Independent.

The cover page carries a picture of Mr Declan Hanratty and Fr Jim Donleavy. Declan Hanratty, the sacristan in the church, is on hunger strike in protest at the Dominican decision.

Dominican priest, Jim Donleavy said: “We weren’t consulted about the closure, I don’t know if other churches were, we just got the diktat. I can’t tell you why we are being closed.”

The news has been carried on regional and national media. To anyone reading the story it would seem that there is discord among the Irish Dominicans. That's now in the public arena clearly to be seen.

Is it fair to ask the question if there were open and real discussion and communication among the members of the Irish Dominicans would such discord appear in public? Would intelligent and strategic planning have led to this?

What is it about the institutional church that seems to suggest that it is incapable of real and open discussion? And not a woman in sight to give a shred of advice.

Some weeks ago this blog carried a quote from Shane Ross in an open letter he wrote to Leo Varadkar. Ross wrote: "Do not allow the culture of silence-control contaminate or muzzle you."

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