Darkness Visible

The Church in Ireland is yet again being confronted with the sins of some of her priests. The bishops are full of apologies, and rightly so. Yet there is something lacking in their language - the spiritual dimension. This dimension is not absent from the language of secular comment. Journalists have spoken not only of evil, but of Satan. Refering to a lengthy legal report on child abuse by priests, one commentator said that the devil was in the detail - literally. If some good is to come from this mess, the bishops of Ireland must teach clearly that the devil is alive and active; and they must teach that his favourite targets are those whose mission is to destroy him - priests. He will use the foulest means to drag them down, and with them the whole of God's people. Priests themselves must be vividly aware of this fact, as must be the laity. Political or sociological rhetoric is not good enough, because it does not go to the root of the problem. Theology is called for, sound theology, traditional theology. Will the shepherds be able to deliver?