I’m ashamed of this; Ireland was a bastion of Christianity until allowing divorce in the 1990s. It never legalized abortion (though that will probably happen now), and was swayed by false temptations of prosperity that would arrive with a progressive agenda. I expect their birthrate will probably plummet as well; they can “play American” and buy material goods instead of investing in children, and watch the fate of England become their fate as well.
Like so much of Europe, Ireland’s best & brightest left a long time ago to make something of themselves in places that offered real opportunity. Those that stayed are quite willing to let others make the big decisions for them; they are truly just an insignificant province on the rump of the EU at this point.
It’s disgusting. I will say, though, that I think it’s the Irish hierarchy that corrupted the Faith in Ireland, both through their sinful actions and their ambiguous words.
BXVI tried to remove some of this group. But I think Francis has unfortunately restored them to grace, and this is the result.