The unprecedented ecumenical service took place on Easter Sunday.
Church of Ireland clergyman, the Reverend Michael Graham, concelebrated Mass with Fr Iggy O’Donovan and two other priests at the Augustinian Priory in Drogheda, Co Louth.
…The concelebration has provoked an angry response from the Catholic hierarchy. Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Sean Brady, has ordered an inquiry into the service, which he said was not in the interests of "true ecumenism".
"I intend to seek further details about the exact circumstances of the concelebration, which is contrary to Catholic Church rules," Dr Brady said.
"True ecumenism is best served by initiatives that are respectful of, and sensitive to, the traditions, ethos and discipline of all those involved.
"Otherwise, there is a real danger of causing widespread confusion, raising false hopes and creating situations that are open to misunderstandings and manipulation."
True ecumenism also tells the truth. I would be great to say that we are one and God willing one day all of these schisms will be healed. Acting out unity where it does not yet exist is a pure sham and using the Holy Mass to put forth a lie does nothing for the cause of true ecumenism.
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Valid, perhaps, provided the words of institution were said by a Catholic Priest, but grossly illicit, grossly confusing, and an IED exploded next to the members of ARCIC Dialog as well as all other Ecumenical efforts between Cathoics and Protestants. Reminds me of the mad women of the St. Lawrence Channel ordinations of 2005. Fr. Iggy’s romanticism needs to be curbed by his superiors.
We need an inquiry to tell us this?? I mean… lets go down the list of people who had to have known and who permitted it. The “inquiry” should take all of about five minutes.
From the article:
The row has echoes of the uproar that followed President Mary McAleese’s decision to receive communion at Christ Church Cathedral in 1997.
The proper thing for her to have done was to have approached the minister at the time of their communion and shaken hands, indicating respect and goodwill without blurring the distinction between Catholic and Protestant. As you may suppose, it’s a very sensitive point in Ireland. You’d think that somebody would have come up with this obvious solution when the event was being planned.