To Be An Irish Catholic

Ever notice that Irish Catholics, when asked their religious affiliation, often identify themselves as Irish Catholic rather than Catholic.  Is there an Irish Catholicism?  Christianity came to Ireland about 200 AD probably with immigrants from the orthodox countries.  

To convert the Irish, missionaries adopted many Irish spiritual traditions.  According to scholars, Irish Christianity  was more humanitarian than its Roman counterpart.   Women were involved in Church governance, homosexuals were allowed to marry as were priests, baptism was by immersion, and private individual confession replaced the Roman public confession with long periods of public penance.  A different translation of the bible was used. There were no bishops or church hierarchy as existed in Europe, in fact almost no communication with Rome existed.  Church leadership was keep close to the people,  vested in the local monastery and its abbot.  In keeping with Jesus’ life and times, the sabbath was celebrate on Saturday rather than the Roman Sunday.  And unlike Roman practice, the date for Easter was the same as Passover.  

Irish Christianity existed through 1300 ad, until Rome forced compliance with Roman doctrine.  Tenants of it can still be seen. (confession)  Afterwards, the Irish became the most rigorous adherents Roman rule.  But my grandfather (and many devout Irish I know) often ‘love Jesus  but beware of Church.’   For the early Irish Christianity, religion was honoring and living Jesus’ life, rather than adherence to dogma and ceremony.  Makes one proud to be an Irish Catholic, lots of lessons for Pope Francis as he considers the disaster the Church has become.