Almost ASB- A Progressive Irish Primate

In OTL the Catholic Church was incredibly influentual in Southern Ireland. It was obsessed by sexual sin and keeping women in an inferior place. We now know just how outragously some Brothers, Priests and Nuns acted for much of the 20th century.

Now suppose that somehow an outstandingly decent human being became Primate in say 1930. Archbishop Francis O'Good (totally out of Derek's imagination) loudly says that beating your wife is worse than adultery. He preaches forgiveness for women (and men) who have sinned sexually.

He also asks the Irish government to offer refuge for Jewish refugees from the Nazis.


He bans corporal punishment in Catholic schools and children's homes. He ensures that people who had sexually abused children are prosecuted and that Priests who use power obtain sexual favors are removed from the Priesthood.


I ask these questions partly because I wonder how much the Church had a choice.
 
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It's time to clean out the Catholic Church.
 
Archbishop Francis O'Good (totally out of Derek's imagination) loudly says that beating your wife is worse than adultery. He preaches forgiveness for women (and men) who have sinned sexually.
First is possible, but it wouldn't have much effect. Second is either OTL (Church forgived sinner, but did not tolerate his/her sins) or ASB-ish (forgivesness equaling tolerance).
He also asks the Irish government to offer refuge for Jewish refugees from the Nazis.
Even without Antisemitism, Ireland in the 1930-ies was too poor to receive significant number of Jews. And who would move from German city to Irish village to do heavy low-paying work, if one did not know of impending Holocaust?
He bans corporal punishment in Catholic schools and children's homes. He ensures that people who had sexually abused children are prosecuted and that Priests who use power obtain sexual favors are removed from the Priesthood.
First is impossible - whipping was normal punishment at almost all schools in the British Isles at the time. It could be limited and made mild, but it would remain.
Second proposal needs governmental efforts (Church couldn't do policing and prosecution, even in interwar Ireland). Removal from priesthood is impossible - priest is priest always, his actions notwithstanding; however, removal from parish priest's office is possible, but only through due process of canonic law. In short, you need not only outstanding Primate, but also equally outstanding bishops, policemen, prosecutors and judges. You need other Ireland...
 
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