The Church and the Irish State

Dev’s vision for Ireland St. Patrick’s Day radio broadcast 1943

Background Central part of Irish identity Was split between Old English and gaelic churches –institutional and popular Marginalised from 16 th through Penal laws –Though not uniformly enforced From 19 th century rights regained and Church becomes institutionalised with British aid –Seen as a restraint on nationalism

Triumphalism in 20 th century ‘The most serious revelation, however, is that the Roman Catholic Church would seem to be the effective government of this country.’ Irish Times, 12 April 1951

Highpoint or decline? Later successfully forced abortion onto the agenda Prevented divorce from being legalised Contraception and homosexuality legalised later

Type of religion

Changes in impact Individualisation: people no longer look to the institution to form their views on questions of morality Secularisation: religion does not influence public decision-making and behaviour

Explaining the decline of religion Scandals in the church Increased openness about sex/ exposure to modern societies, i.e. UK, US rendered catholic position risible

But… Most of this was known many years ago and Irish chose to ignore, sanction it. Urbanisation, changes in educational opportunities

Did the church ‘prevent the future’? Garvin (2004) argues that the Church and other conservative interest groups like unions, IMO, employers organisation prevented the development of a competitive, educated people