Catholicism in Ireland was for too long characterised by conformity rather than conviction, a leading Irish American historian has said.

Speaking last night to the Iona Institute in Buswell’s Hotel, Emeritus Professor John P. McCarthy (pictured), of Fordham University, said that “much of the obedient and devout Catholicism of mid-twentieth century Ireland was attributable to an unhealthy linking of religion and nationalism”.

And he added: “Church leaders also could be faulted for having rested on the soft deference they received from society and state in a quasi-established position”.

He said that the change in fortunes of the Church here dated from the 1960s, as Ireland entered the EU and became more open to foreign trade.

The advent of television, and the discussion of previously taboo topics was also part of the process, Professor McCarthy added.

He said: “That was fine in itself, but there was a problem of imbalance and even, as was more recently borne out, outright fraud in anti-clerical presentations.

“But more disturbing than the liberalization of television was its libertine-isation, particularly the less serious fare, such as soaps, comedies, and even commercials, which probably have had a greater effect on the consciousness of the popular mind than serious discussion programs.”

Despite these changes, Church leaders here “had an unwarranted sense of confidence in the late 70’s and early 80’s because of certain events; the 1979 Papal visit, the 1983 anti-abortion referendum, and the 1986 rejection of a divorce referendum,” Professor McCarthy said.

He continued: “Within a decade things turned quickly the other way. The “X” case in 1992 was followed by referenda approval of the distribution of information about abortion and permission to travel abroad to obtain an abortion.

“In 1995, by a margin of less than 51pc, a constitutional amendment allowing divorce was approved in a referendum.

“The next decade and a half would be a long night of the soul for the Catholic Church in Ireland in view of the numerous revelations of sexual abuse by priests and religious in parishes, schools, and, especially, industrial homes, and hierarchical lack of concern.”

The lack of balance in the meda had worsened in the interim, with a “hostile, unfair, and often dishonest atmosphere” as regards the Catholic Church pervading today’s Irish media, he said.

He said: “Things are different in America, where even media figures who are not particularly religious themselves generally give a forum to church figures and their allies.

“In addition, there are a greater variety of media options, especially radio stations and cable television, giving options other than establishment political correctness.”

Professor McCarthy added: “The intolerance and disregard for religious positions, especially Catholic positions, by many in the Irish media, forms the thinking of political speechwriters, particularly those of the Taoiseach.

“That was obvious in his speech for the closing session of the Dáil in 2011 in which he alluded to ‘the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism – that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day’ and insisted he would refuse to be intimidated by ‘the swish of a soutane’ and ‘the swing of a thurible’.

“The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, afterwards announced that Ireland will no longer maintain a resident ambassador to the Vatican.”