Mary McAleese comments on Jesus and marriage equality are appalling
Former president’s claim baptised children are ‘infant conscripts’ is insulting
Former president Mary McAleese has emphasised the primacy of conscience. Photograph: Tom Honan
The Catholic Church in Ireland, in which I am pleased to serve on my local parish pastoral council, has been arrogant in relation to its members and to other Christian churches. Many of its members need to be evangelised and many parishes need to move from maintenance to the mission Jesus called for.
There are wonderful models of this in process in Baltimore in the United States (churchnativity.tv) and Nova Scotia in Canada (saintbenedict.ca), which are becoming inspirational to many Catholics in Ireland.