Assess The Role Of Catholicism In Ireland

Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction written by Gerald O’Collins is a short read that gives an insight to the Catholic church without getting confusing to the reader. It touches on the basics of Catholicism such as the history, practices, and core beliefs. Through each chapter Gerald O’Collins a research professor in the field of Theology at St. Mary’s University College and Twickenham, as well as formally Dean in Gregorian University for the faculty of Theology, shares his knowledge on the Catholic religion one question at a time.

Catholics, in stark contrast to how they conduct themselves around smaller groups of non-Catholics, are not fond of being subjugated due to their beliefs. This is demonstrated in a speech given by Mr. Daniel O’Connell in 1836 to the British House of Commons. Here Mr. O’Connell attempts to secure the ability of Irish Catholics to be voted into the British Parliament by the support of his peers from the Church of England. His use of logical fallacies and allows his argument to fall short of being successful.

In 1790s Glasgow there were no more than thirty-nine Catholics living in the City, yet there were forty-three anti-Catholic societies. Ironically, it could be argued that it was only after the question of Irish independence had been essentially removed from politics in Scotland, that the Catholic Church discovered a sense of nationalism in the journey for political power and influence. Moreover, the Catholic Church could not put a stop to their flock’s identification that voting Labour was a basic issue of class. This invoked a scenario that can only be described as institutional religious bigotry especially in the inter-war period. Anti-Irish prejudice was far more prominent in this era - and not simply discrimination uniquely identified

Throughout history, cultures’ perceptions of women have dramatically shifted, which has lead to movements such as the American feminist wave of the 1960s or the Irish feminist movement of recent years (Huth). These perceptual shifts in Irish culture were not organically created, but manufactured due to British involvement, choking the female empowerment movement before it could even begin. Irish feminism, particularly in terms of marriage, has, like much of Ireland’s infrastructure and modern advances, been choked by the antiquated nature of Ireland pre-Celtic Tiger, and this has led to a history of oppression in marriage that is sharply contrasted with the marriage laws and practices of mythology as well as the pre-British society based off these legends.

The Catholic Church is the oldest major religion in the Western world. Littered with peace, love, and humility, along with violence, turmoil, and controversy this institution has seen, heard, led, and had influence over the majority of everything and everybody that there was in the last two millennia. This has included ordinary people, Kings, Queens, Generals, Nobleman, Royalty, and everything in between, and has endured since the beginning of the modern era, Anno Domini. They great spiritual and monetary machine created a powerful reign over the entire world’s Catholics, and remains so to this day. For the purpose of background for my visit to a Catholic Church, being Presbyterian, I did historical research before I visited. I

The start of the Irish’ peoples struggles began when the British came and destroyed their way of life. The Penal laws of 1691 stripped Irish Catholics of their freedoms by taking away their rights to become officers

Were De Valera’s personal Catholic views responsible for the religious elements in the Irish Constitution?

Ireland has always had religious problems between, Pagans, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish people. Ireland has always been a place of interest in English eyes so Ireland was continually concord over and over by the English and the currency, traditions and religions changed with every English King, Queen or Irish Rebel. Between 1641 and 1691 Oliver Cromwell changed everything, Irish Catholics, Pagans and Jews were killed or shipped off to be slaves. The influence to immigrate was very strong, their options were to go to a new world of which they knew no one and had nothing, be killed for your religion, or be gathered up and shipped away as a slave. It was a hard decision they all were forced to

No matter their religion, language, or struggles they faced upon arrival in America throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the one thing all Irish had in common was their reason for leaving Ireland; the English. Whether Catholic from southern Ireland or Presbyterian from the Ulster region, the Irish were systematically oppressed by the Anglican Church of England. For those who could afford the passage, America meant freedom to worship as they chose and for the Ulster Presbyterians; recognition that their church was valid. For the southern Irish, unfortunately, during the 1800’s America was a heavily Protestant country that harbored severe suspicions of Catholics and rumors the Pope was plotting to destroy their country. This meant

The conflict in Northern Ireland has persisted because of religious affiliations, their identities and the struggle for overall power. The morals and identities of the people and organizations of Northern Ireland

The English were making the Irish poor to force them into the protestant church. Under the Penal Laws the Irish Catholics were deprived them of any right to be represented in local government, to vote, or to even own land. Under these harsh conditions it is no wonder woman and children of the time bumbled around town just to find some way to survive as a catholic while protestantism is being shoved down one 's thought.

In Ireland, Catholicism is a major component of the everyday lifestyle, religion and culture. Religion was so inextricably intertwined within the Irish community that it even surpassed politics in that the priests hold all of the clout in society. The parish had an immense influence on society, and the priests were greatly respected as evidenced by the title “ Father,”

The Irish had suffered long before in the hands of the English when Cromwell had been in control and had taken away land held by the catholic majority of the country to members of the protestant minority. This created a large tension among the population with the oppressed majority and the rather entitled minority who by Trevelyan’s snooty tone did indeed see themselves as the superior people in the country. (Trevelyan’s tone is probably the most dismissive when in discussion of the Irish, mayhaps showing his own true dislike.) (Trevelyan, p. 116-

It is not surprising that after the break-away that followed the reformation movement, the Roman Catholic Church never fully recovered it preeminent position as the fulcrum of state authority in Europe.

The Catholic Church took on a more significant role as a” provider of social services from the mid-nineteenth century”(Considine and Dukelow ,2009,p.15. The Church strongly endorsed the principle of Subsidiarity, supporting the belief that areas concerned with provision should be managed at local level, by various community based groups.