The Aggiornamento of the Irish Catholic Church in the 1960s and 1970s

Abstract

The Irish Roman Catholic Church was affected by deep and far-reaching changes from the early 1960s to the late 1970s. The turning point which led to a period of revision and to a reassessment of the sense of place of the Church in Irish society dates back to the innovations of Pope John XXIII and the second Vatican Council. Although other important factors were also at work, the sea change that could be observed in the Church’s attitude strongly contributed to the emergence of a climate of freer discussion and encouraged politicians to push ahead with new legislation.