The Irish bishops initially declined to publish any findings for the Irish responses to the global consultation on marriage and family, but have now reversed that decision. The summary of results that they have now released mirrors those from elsewhere that have been published - there is a major disconnect between the teaching as presented by the Church, and the lived experience of Catholics in the real world.

The Church’s teaching on marriage and family life is disconnected from the real-life experience of many Irish Catholics, the country’s bishops have acknowledged.

Giving a summary of the responses to the Vatican questionnaire, the Irish Bishops Conference said it is not experienced by many Catholics as “realistic, compassionate or life-enhancing”.

Many respondents expressed “particular difficulties” with the teachings on extra-marital sex and cohabitation by unmarried couples, divorce and remarriage, family planning, assisted human reproduction and homosexuality. Some found the Church’s position on these issues left them feeling “guilty and excluded,” the bishops said.

via The Tablet - News.