'Structured dialogue' between Church and State takes its first steps

The first bilateral meeting between representatives of the Catholic Church and the Irish Government took place yesterday as part of the new structured dialogue between the Government and the Churches, Philosophical and non-confessional Organisations launched by the Government on 26th February this year.

The Catholic Church's delegation included Archbishop Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and President of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Vice-President of the Irish Bishops’ Conference and Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore and Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission on Education.

Northern Ireland, the role of Churches in building community and social cohesion, education, providing support for marriage and the family, were among the issues discussed at the meeting. The integration of immigrants into Irish society, the right of faith based organisations to act in accordance with conscience and ethos, child protection and stem cell research were also addressed.

A spokesperson for the Church delegation described the meeting as “constructive and helpfulâ€?.  The Church looked forward to exploring in more detail “the role that Churches play in building community and providing a supportive and welcoming environment for those coming to live and work in our countryâ€? in future meetings, the spokesperson added.

Describing the Government's structured dialogue as a very welcome development, the spokesperson said the initiative acknowledged “the vital role of religious faith in the lives of so many people in Ireland and the valued contribution of so many faith-based organisations to the common good�.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Church of Ireland, who met the Government on Monday said he was happy with the meeting. He added that the meetings “contributed to a pluralist ethos, as distinct from an exclusively secular one, where the State imposes a consensus�.

Specifically, he said that the State had an opportunity to listen to the Churches concerns about education. "Currently we have a denominational system of education, where the core State curriculum is the same in each school, but each school has its own ethos and religious curriculum," he said.

Each group, he said, could bring their own religious and philosophical convictions to play in such an environment, and each would have these convictions respected and valued, he added.