Absolute power of Irish Catholicism in 21st-century freefall

The Irish Catholic church is a special example of absolute and absolutely corrupted power.

Never occupied by the Romans, Ireland developed a Catholicism that is unique — and was until just a few years ago uniquely powerful within the culture.

Beatings in Catholic schools were normal, and often repeated at home. People tell horrific stories, every one of them similar.

It was not until the Bishop Casey scandal in 1992 that anybody dared question the power of the clergy or the "Christian Brothers" (church-affiliated school-teachers.) Casey got a woman pregnant. Even the old folks - with agreement that he was a scumbag for the way he treated her - now realize what a petty scandal that was. But concensus is that the decline began there.

The depth of the sickness within the autocratic organization is now coming to light, and the church is in free-fall. And "not before time" - none too soon.

Abortion is still illegal, though; a throwback to a more primitive time — two decades ago.