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AN IRISH ARCHBISHOP has told a meeting of the Catholic Church to begin listening to married couples.
Speaking at the Synod of Bishops in Rome yesterday, Diarmuid Martin said that it was time for the Church to come up with a “new language” for speaking to couples. He said that the “one-way dialogue” of the past drove people away.
“To many the language of the Church appears to be a disincarnated language of telling people what to do, a “one way dialogue”. I am in no way saying that the Church is not called to teach. I am not saying that experience on its own determines teaching or the authentic interpretation of teaching.
What I am saying is that the lived experience and struggle of spouses can help find more effective ways of expression of the fundamental elements of Church teaching.
He said parents, especially those in the poorer areas, have experienced “all the economic and social difficulties which have affected Ireland during a dramatic economic crisis”, yet they continue to “live the daily realities of family relationships and commitment to the education of their children”.
Martin said many men and women, without making explicit reference to the teaching of the Church, “actually live out the value of marital fidelity day-by-day, at times heroically.”
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Marriage advice from elderly,celibate men is like asking your mechanic to give you a vasectomy.
LesBehan..
Not at all. Myself and my husband (who was depressed) were going through a rough patch this time last year. We went to the our GP who didnt really know what to do. In fact for a married man he hadnt a clue. Our priest who is the same age as myself was my last resort. Pure practical advice. He was unbelievably kind to us. Spoke to us seperately and together. He seemed to lift the “guilt” my husband was feeling and he showed me how to help him. He made a huge difference. And we are so happy now.
You dont have to be married to be able to help a married couple. All my married friends were zero help to me. I got plenty of advice off them on how to get revenge etc. That doesnt fix a marriage.
And by the way the priest never mentioned God, Jesus or Mary to us. And he didnt get money either. He just wanted to help. And he did.
In England and Wales there are many married Catholic priests (married protestant converts) and the world didn’t fall apart! Why shouldn’t they suffer like the rest of us?
Church panicking now, because people are seeing sense and staying away from this outdated organisation.
The church needs to learn to respect the institution of marriage. A good start would be for it to apologise on behalf of God for magically impregnating a married Virgin without her knowledge.
Kind of rapey wasn’t it?! At least some sort of violation anyway!
well God is the ultimate deadbeat dad, he knocks up Mary, disappears, Son becomes famous, God wants Son to live with him.
At least apologize for impregnating a child. she was between 12 and 16 when it happened.
And she was married I’m so disgusted with this God guy if he comes never my daughter I’ll go to heaven and kill him myself
Why is the Church sticking it’s nose into married couple’s business anyway?
To get to their children and brainwash them while they are young I my self will let the decide their own path when old enough
Should be listening to every one not just couples if they want to get any creditability have all inclusive gay straight all clours races genders
It’s not just couples though is it . It’s just married couples. Other couples don’t count apparently never mind same sex couples.
Don’t think too many gays will be upset that the Roman Catholic Church didn’t ask to speak to us; we’d just rather they stopped speaking about us!
Ah speaking to gay comunity will make them understand you and not be so condeming of you or any sector of community
Aye, that’s it… Start listening to people who actually don’t listen to each other!
Ha your hilarious witty comment
Tells us more about your relationship county ?
Gosh! The predictable chip-on-the-shoulder trolls are out in force already!
How about listening, full stop? Why just listen to married couples? I’m married but I don’t see how that should be a deciding factor in the church wanting to ‘listen’ to me.
Always lecturing us about this and that when it’s their own organisation’s chronic problems they should be confronting, and not cosying up to Canon Law every time they refuse to face up to the Law of the Land and prevent the authorities from throwing their noncy paeds in jail.
Actually, maybe they should listen to me after all – I’ll give them a right good piece of my mind!
So headline could have read: Church admits ‘we’ve not been listening to married couple for centuries’
Sex,sex sex that’s all they ever think about….com’on Brian lets go see a stoning.
The best thing the Church is allow married priests then maybe they will have an idea
Ok I’m atheist so don’t believe in any daithy or supernatural figure including the Easter bunny (the chocolate would be nice though) But was brought up Catholic.
To defend my self against the rampant reglious I had to get some education on church history and reglious belief’s.
I am however of the opinion that not only should Catholic priests be allowed to marry but women should be allowed to become priests. If the Catholic Church wants to save it’s self then it need to have some major reforms.
Before 1270′s Catholic priests were allowed to marry though many did take vows of chaste and cebicy. It was only changed because of inheritance rights.
Bloody auto correct changing spelling of words :-l
Dermuid Martin should listen to the people of Ireland that the church betrayed and sold off
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