The controversial Irish ‘Synod Synthesis’ document released last year stated:
The Covid-19 pandemic greatly impacted religion and faith in different ways - gathering and expressing faith in physical places of worship was restricted, especially at parish level. The closure of churches and curtailment of ministry during lockdowns represented a marked shift in the life of the Church during this period. This shift generated deep feelings of isolation, abandonment, pain and hurt, especially amongst the elderly and those on their own as well as palpable sorrow to grieving families, arising from the restrictions on Church liturgies and pastoral care at this time. Many felt that Covid accelerated an already steep decline in Church practice and general engagement.
The church’s reaction to lockdown in Ireland was very varied, with some priests going above and beyond to make sure that those in need were cared for, especially with regard to grieving families during funerals. There were clandestine Masses, secret Communions and covert gatherings. On the opposite end of that spectrum were over zealous ‘Covid wardens’, yellow tape separating seats and even Holy Water replaced with hand sanitiser (which some parishioners even blessed themselves with).
New statistics now reveal that the lockdown was a battering ram to an already suffering church in Ireland.
1,500 adults were surveyed by Amárach, with some alarming reseults. 41% of Catholics who regularly attended Mass before Covid are no longer doing so.
59% of those who went to Mass before Covid-19 are back attending Mass on a regular basis.
24% of those polled said that they were regular Mass goers prior to the pandemic.
Polling those who had been attending Mass at one point but who no longer did, Amárach found that 31% regarded their belief as “isn’t as strong” as it was before the pandemic. Interestingly, 37% of men felt this way compared to 26% of women.
When the survey was narrowed to those under 35, 11% said that they were attending Mass prior to the lockdown. 20% of 35-44 year olds and 18% in the 45-54 bracket and 40% of those over-55 siad they had attended Mass.
Pope Francis
A paltry 32% of men and an even smaller 25% of women said they were satisfied with the way that Pope Francis is leading the church.
Soul of Ireland
44% of men and 35% of women said that Ireland has ‘lost her soul’, a colossal number for the normally subservient Irish, who are reluctant to criticise the post Celtic Tiger status quo.
Future
There are currently 56 men studying for the priesthood in Ireland.
With the numbers of priests and nuns collapsing in dramatic numbers during Covid,
For example, 34 priests died in Dublin Archdiocese during the pandemic while only one was ordained.
The fall in participation has also coincided with launch of the Synod in 2021, which has so far been universally detested by clergy and parishioners alike, after many (though not a significant many) attended the initial consultations in parishes, only to find that their comments and ideas were completely ignored by a Synod Synthesis report that was eerily close to the rhetoric of certain liberal Catholic lobby groups in the Irish church. Coming out of lockdown and spending all of the church’s energy on the Synod has been a mistake, especially with many now further alienated after feeling that it was a waste of time to offer their views at the meetings.
With all of these statistics in mind, we leave these words from the Synod Synthesis report, which chose to attack not the priests who have driven people away, but the younger priests trying to clean up their mess.
Some participants were concerned that some younger priests are very traditional and rigid in their thinking and may not have the requisite skills for co-responsible leadership.
