Underscoring Pope Benedict’s appeals for renewal are the recent words of the Archbishop of Dublin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. In frank comments made to a Catholic group in Dublin and posted on the Archdiocesan web site, Archbishop Martin confessed to some discouragement over the sexual abuse crisis, but also said that there is a broader need for spiritual renewal.

“I do not believe that people have a true sense of the crisis of faith that exists in Ireland,” he said. And the archbishop was not merely referring to the sex abuse crisis. He noted the collapse of faith across Ireland, and the failure to foster that faith in all of the places where it should be strongest – the family, the school, and especially the parish.

“What is needed,” he said, “is renewal of the vision of parish. Many of our parishes offer very little in terms of outreach to young people.”

But the archbishop also reminded the Irish people of what authentic renewal entails. He noted, “Renewal is never our own creation. Renewal will only come through returning to the Church which we have received from the Lord.”