Eucharistic Congress Dublin 2012

One of the great iconic events of 20th century Irish history was the Eucharistic Congress of 1932. Apart from its religious symbolism it was also a statement by the newly established state about its independence and its commitment to the faith of the majority of the people. The event was echoed to a lesser extent by the Patrician Year in 1961 when the papal legate Cardinal Agagianian came to preside at the celebrations. The other great religious occasion of the 20th century was the Pope’s visit in 1979. All of these events were welcomed and enjoyed by the vast bulk of the citizens of the republic and as a reflection of this the whole apparatus of the state was brought to bear on them to ensure their success. Times have changed.

Whatever about the first two events we now know that the Pope’s 1979 visit took place in the context of huge hypocrisy by the bishops and the clergy. While the Pope lectured Irish families on the dangers of contraception and the importance of chastity two of the most prominent figures of the visit Fr. Michael Cleary and bishop Eamon Casey had made a mockery of Catholic teaching by fathering children. However worse than that we now know that the institutional Church was at the same time colluding in the cover up of most horrendous abuse of Irish children while at the same time attacking and ignoring their parents as they tried to defend them.

Now there is another comparable Catholic celebration on the agenda, the 50th Eucharistic Congress in 2012 in Dublin. It is proposed to hold it in a diocese that has just been pilloried in the Murphy report. Again the Church authorities will need the cooperation of the State to ensure that the event happens and that it is a success. These are the Diocesan authorities who over decades cocked a snoop at the state by hiding criminal child abuse from the Gardaí and those responsible for the welfare of children. In addition at an international level the Vatican, the sponsor of the Eucharistic Congress, refused to cooperate with the investigation of abuse in the Dublin Diocese. They cannot now expect the State to roll out the red carpet for them

The Dublin Diocese is only one of 26. There is no reason to believe that the situation that prevailed there over recent decades was not repeated in the other dioceses. Clearly the Government believe this to be the case because it extended the remit of Murphy to investigate the diocese of Cloyne. It unlikely that this report will be concluded by the time of the Dublin Eucharistic Congress in 2012 so what more remains to be revealed we can only speculate. It will be held against the background of huge and hidden scandal within the Irish Catholic Church. Resources that could be used to uncover this scandal will instead be used to for a celebration.

The last few weeks have seen apologies and calls for resignations but all of this will do little to assuage to hurt of those abused as children and their families. A huge symbolic gesture is required. None was forthcoming from the religious orders in the aftermath of the Ryan report. Apart from Fr. Michael Mernagh’s personal walk of atonement from Cobh to the Pro-Cathedral none seems to be on the cards from the institutional Church or the host of the 2012 Congress, the Dublin Diocese. While there have been expressions of regret and commitment that this will never happen again none has come from the State either. Cancelling the Eucharistic Congress could be one.

Since the Vatican refused to cooperate with the State in investigating the abuses in the Dublin Diocese the state should immediately cancel all cooperation in the staging of the Eucharistic Congress in 2012. This would say to those abused that at least the country of which you are a citizen is on your side and it would also send a strong message to the Church authorities. The Ryan report mentioned an ‘undue deference’ to the Church. Withdrawing the assistance of the State in the organisation of the 2012 events would give concrete expression to the ending of that deference. If it goes ahead neither the President, the Taoiseach, members of the Government or the Oireachtas should attend any of the events.


But the main challenge is to the Church itself and particularly the Dublin Diocese. The Eucharistic Congress, held every four years, is a celebration of the central mystery of the Catholic Church, the Eucharist. For the local Church hosting the celebrations it is a great honour. By the admissions of many of the bishops and the clergy the Irish Catholic Church and as we now know especially the Dublin Diocese are guilty of the most sinful behaviour. It is appropriate that such a local Church should receive such an honour?

If the celebrations are anything on the scale of the Pope’s visit what will that say to those who have been so grievously abused? It is ok, business as usual! As the Papal Legate preaches to the faithful what credibility will his words have in view of the Vatican’s refusal to cooperate with Justice Murphy in her work? If and when it happens will there be prelates and clergy on the altar with all their honours and titles who have been the subject of criticism by the Murphy Report or who will be under investigation as enquiries move on to Cloyne.

The Church has no choice. The bishops and especially the Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Diarmuid Martin must inform the Vatican that Dublin, in the current circumstances, is not a suitable place to host such an important liturgical event. It will not undo the harm done but it might go some way to convincing the sceptical that the expressions of regret are sincere. Apart from that it would do the Catholic Church in Ireland no harm to keep a low profile for the next few years.