If Irish society or Irish lay people are in any way to blame it is in allowing the church ever to attain and abuse this control of their lives, but this assumes that lay people ever had any say in the matter. (Jim C)

Which, of course they didn't.. I've met countless people (UK Irish) who very obviously resented that control but knew or thought they were powerless against it. One significant factor being that to go against the Catholic church is, to some, tantamount to being a Protestant. All cults work the same way to a varying degree: if you aren't one of us, you must be against us. The Catholic church preaches 'tolerance' nowadays - I find that rather patronising, although it's obviously an improvement on their past behaviour.