The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Walton Empey, has reminded members that "we are citizens of this State, loyal citizens, and as such it is incumbent upon us to let our views be known.
"If we do not, we can hardly complain that our voice is never heard."
Referring to earlier days when Church of Ireland leaders "kept their heads down and said little", he said "that has all changed."
"That is as it should be. We love our country, we are proud to be Irish. When we speak out let it be in that knowledge, for that will change our tone from one of minority whingeing to loving criticism, which is a very different matter altogether," he said.
Dr Empey was speaking yesterday during his farewell address as Archbishop of Dublin in Christ Church cathedral yesterday. He retires on Wednesday next.
He said that, since his ordination, the spirit of ecumenism in Ireland had changed dramatically.
"It must be difficult for young people, nowadays, to believe that at that time Roman Catholics were even forbidden to enter our churches and indeed our own people, although not actually forbidden to enter Roman Catholic churches, would be extremely loathe to do so.
"The clergy of both our Churches barely acknowledged one another in the street, whereas today the majority know each other by their Christian names and co-operate closely in community enterprises," he said.
He continued, however, that at the official level, although matters were progressing, it was "albeit at a much slower rate."
"We seem at times to be making progress and then documents, like Dominus Iesus, take us one step back. However, it must be admitted that to some on our island, ecumenism is a dirty word, while others regard it with sublime indifference."
He continued: "I would remind both groups that the search for unity is not a matter of taste but, rather, an obedient reaction to the prayer of our Lord that we 'may be one'."