Catholic Church faces post-pandemic challenges

Has Covid-19 hastened the decline of the church in Irish life, asks Bishop Duignan

 Fr Martin Cosgrove saying Mass in an empty Church of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Rathfarnham, Dublin. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/ EPA

Fr Martin Cosgrove saying Mass in an empty Church of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Rathfarnham, Dublin. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/ EPA

In a pastoral reflection on the future of the Catholic Church last month, one of the church’s newest and youngest bishops, Bishop of Clonfert Michael Duignan (50), pondered the challenges that lie ahead.

“I fear that we might mistakenly think that once the current Covid restrictions are lifted and once we return to public worship, everything will be all right,” said the bishop. Instead, he believes the future will be “very different”.

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