Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he’s not overly concerned that Catholic Emancipation commemorations don’t feature in the Irish Government’s programme for government. Speaking to this paper he said “I wouldn’t be too worried about seeing it in the program for government, I would like to do and we’re already having some conversations about this at Conference level. I would like for people to see Catholic Emancipation not simply as some historical moment but reflect on the Church at that time; Church-State relationships, Church – State dialogue and reflect on religious freedom in Ireland today and also given that we’re reflecting on Ireland’s future as an island, what will be the place of faith, what will be the place of Church, religion, practice of faith, the ability of the church to be seen in the public square, to be part of public debate.”
He said these themes are directly connected with the theme of Catholic Emancipation because Catholic Emancipation opened up the freedoms which one would expect from any modern nation to have for people of faith and religion.
“So I feel that and certainly in the Church I would like to see us having a call for papers, for academics, historians, sociologists, theologians, church people to have that discussion and indeed maybe we might have some kind of a conference or a forum between the Dail and the Church or between the North and the Church and reflect” he said.
And he added: “Remember Catholic Emancipation not only impacted Ireland and Catholics but it also impacted England, Scotland, Wales; parts of the British empire – Canada, Australia so I think there is a very opportune time presented and I would be hopeful that if we were to approach the Government with a proposal for some kind of a project or a forum or a seminar on this issue there’s no reason why they, I can’t imagine [would object].”
