The Parish Priest of Sixmilebridge insists there’s an urgent need for clericalism to be removed from the Catholic Church, in order to stamp out the abuse of power.
Fr Harry Bohan is speaking ahead of an event in the village tonight as part of the World Meeting of Families, which has entered its second day today.
Clare FM’s Fiona McGarry reports:
It’s day two of the World Meeting of Families, which is welcoming thousands of people from 116 countries.
A range of topics are being discussed at the conference at Dublin’s RDS, including marriage and parenting.
It coincides with new Government research that claims one-in-three no longer fit the church’s traditional definition of family – single parents, gay parents and co-habiting couples are now almost as prevalent as the ‘nuclear’ family.
An event is taking place in Sixmilebridge tonight to mark the world meeting and the Parish Priest says family, relationship and community values will be at the heart of it.
Fr Harry Bohan believes there’s an urgent need to move away from clericalism, towards a Church that belongs to everyone:
Meanwhile in Dublin, a rainbow choir made up of LGBT singers will perform in protest outside the World Meeting of Families this afternoon.
A discussion on respecting LGBT members of the church is taking place at the event today but an application from LGBT members to have a stand there was refused.
One of the organisers of the protest Ursula Halligan says their voices cannot remain silent:
Ahead of Pope Francis’ arrival in Ireland this weekend, the woman who uncovered the scandal of the Tuam Mother and Baby home has turned down an invite to meet him.
Catherine Corless claims she won’t go to the civic reception with Pope Francis this weekend because he’s not meeting with victims on abuses in that and similar institutions.
The north Galway historian was the first person to prove that the Bon Secours home had been disposing of infants bodies on its grounds.
She’s holding a vigil at the same time as the Papal mass in solidarity with the victims.
