Catch up Catholic Church

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]lthough the historic Irish decision to legalise same-sex marriage has been met with mostly positive reactions, the Catholic Church has damned the population of the island for approving what they see as “a defeat for humanity.” Although the comments don’t come from “cool pope” Francis himself, they do come from his second in command, Pietro Parolin. But in a world where the majority of young people are moving away from an increasingly old-fashioned Church, does it really matter what the Vatican thinks anymore?

The short answer is probably not. As more and more countries approve same-sex legislation, it’s clear that the Church is being left behind by the zeitgeist. This has been crystallised by the decision in Ireland, once seen as a staunchly Catholic and fundamentally conservative country. A spirited campaign on the “yes” side showed that religion and age were no barriers to progress – just take the 90-year old great grandmother and Donegal priest who voted yes as examples.

in a world where the majority of young people are moving away from an increasingly old-fashioned Church, does it really matter what the Vatican thinks anymore?

However, the upper echelons of the Church remain opposed. As these comments were made, it was interesting to note that Laurent Stefanini was still being blocked from his appointment at the Holy See because of his sexuality. It’s becoming increasingly clear that although Francis may have been progressive on many other issues, he remains a conservative figure, at least by society’s standards. And we can’t ignore Parolin’s words either. He’s arguably just as important as the Pope himself, helping to shape Church views and stances for over 20 years.

And it’s not just Parolin who’s condemned the results. Raymond Burke, a Cardinal from the US who heads the Sovereign Order of Malta, has called the Irish “worse than pagans” for approving same-sex marriage. Even the Pope has hosted events at the Vatican for “traditional marriage.” Why does the Church have such an issue with sexuality? Homosexual relations may be condemned in the Bible, but so is everything else.

Throughout history, Catholicism has found it increasingly hard to be viewed as progressive, religions aren’t exactly known for acceptance of people who don’t share the same beliefs, but eventually they often find that they have to at least accept what’s happening. They may not agree, but at least they aren’t so vitriolic about it anymore. Could the same happen with gay marriage and LGBT rights? Probably. Recent polls show that most of Western Europe is in favour of some form of same-sex union – even 75% of Italians are in favour of such a change.

it’s imperative the Church learns to re-adjust to its new role in society

With more and more young people growing up apathetic about religion, Catholics desperately need to find a way to draw in the new faithful. Although blocking gay marriage and opposing homosexuality may seem like the best course of action, the Holy See could soon become irrelevant and out-dated. Speaking as an atheist, this would be a terrible loss. The Church can act as a powerful moraliser on issues that are universally important, such as climate change and global conflicts. It also draws together communities and allows people to believe in a bigger plan. None of this should be lost in Europe. But it’s imperative the Church learns to re-adjust to its new role in society.

If you can get married without a priest, why should the Church have any say at all? This isn’t about forcing Catholics to let us get married in a churches, it’s just about giving us legal recognition and making the state equal. The Church is at risk of being consigned to the shelves of history, nothing more than a dusty relic of ages past. By accepting same-sex marriage, it can remain relevant in today’s liberal and tolerant world.

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