"Among the best traitors Ireland has ever had, Mother Church ranks at the very top, a massive obstacle in the path to equality and freedom. She has been a force for conservatism... to ward off threats to her own security and influence"

This quote by Bernadette Devlin is a criticism of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Devlin is suggesting that the Church has been a major challenge to the development of equality and liberty in Ireland. She argues that the Church has actually been a force for conservatism, protecting its own interests and influence rather than promoting the interests of the Irish people. Devlin implies that the Church has actually been one of the worst traitors to Ireland, as it has hindered the development of the country. This quote highlights the tension in between the Church and the Irish people, and the requirement for the Church to be more open to change and progress.