Theologian Daly calls for reform of church teaching

A leading Irish theologian has called for reform around church teaching on contraception and women, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

In an address at the Milltown Institute this week Augustinian Fr Gabriel Daly, who lectured in theology for over 30 years at Trinity College Dublin, said the phrase “the teaching of the Church” is often intended to intimidate when used by traditionalists. Speaking ahead of the launch this month of his new book, The Church: Always in Need of Reform, the 88-year-old said the ban on contraception had been turned into “a fetish” and that the position of women in the Church remains “the most urgent issue.”