What happens in a society when a country’s primary social institution, one that forms the national identity, mobilizes civic engagement and shapes public opinion on moral, economic and political issues, loses its authority and influence? This is precisely what has happened in the Republic of Ireland. This paper draws on the recent experience of the same sex marriage and abortion referenda to analyze how reforms in education are altering the once dominant role of the Catholic Church in this area. The paper allows us to look within the “black box” of secularization, so we can more clearly understand how various actors and social factors are interacting to influence the Church’s rapidly evolving religious and cultural authority within Ireland.
