Carlow native, Fr Paddy Byrne (42), who is known as the “tweeting priest”, opens up about his life since joining the priesthood.
He says most priests are getting their “old age pensions”. He thinks the church should be open to allowing priests marry.
“We do need young men. I really think we need younger men to come with us but perhaps that’s only half the lung of the church. Where I work in Portlaoise, where I have served in Newbridge, where I have served in Bagenalstown, the vast, vast majority of people who are involved in service in church are women.”
“I often wonder what is it like to be a woman, particularly an 18-year-old or 25-year-old who has a vocation to become a priest. I think that’s a bigger question.”
