After reading Brendan Hoban’s article on the sad state of the priesthood in Ireland (The Tablet, 8 November), I watched Pope Francis address the European Parliament. The Pope readily offers economic and political advice to Europe while the institution of which he is the head is even more haggard and sterile. It never seems to occur to Catholic leaders that the spiritual decline of Europe results from the Church’s failure to effectively preach the gospel. They blame politicians for the lack of moral and transcendent vision which the Church’s should provide. Perhaps, if the Pope were to turn his attention to reviving the Church, there would be a spiritual renaissance in Europe. Somehow it seems easier to deal with world poverty and international relations than to face the Church’s dismal condition.
Louis Manzo, Florida, USA
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