A spokesman for said diocese denies that the sex abuse scandal has anything to do with it. It's the recession, you see. And a drop in attendance. Not the abuse scandal.
Do the bishops honestly believe that, or is the statement meant to put a good face on a financial debacle?
Pay-outs to victims of clerical abuse have depleted the Church's cash store. At the same time, people aren't going to Mass, and if they're not going to Mass, they're not contributing during the Offertory.
Money goes out, but it's not coming in. Anyone can see what that means to a business enterprise with low-paid employees but high maintenance facilities.
It isn't only Dublin. Now comes word that the Cloyne diocese is also on the verge.
The coddling and protection offered to the clerical pedophiles by the Church hierarchy has outraged the faithful, but the bishops never did listen to them so now they speak a language that the Church can't help but hear.
Disgusted by the attitude, the lack of adherence to priestly vows and the basic tenets of Catholicism, people stay away from church in droves. There are those who do attend services, but refuse to put a cent into the collection basket.
The bishops got themselves into the mess, and hard-working Catholics aren't going to help get them out of it.
Attendance is down, collections are down, and it isn't a sign that people are too lazy to get out of bed on Sunday. It's the voice of the faithful, speaking out against an institution that long took them for granted.
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