Dáil candidate Ken Curtin meets bishop over Mass readings

A general election candidate, who was told by his parish priest that he could no longer read at Mass due to his stance on abortion, will meet his bishop and parish priest tomorrow.

To his shock, Cork East candidate for the Social Democrats Ken Curtin was removed recently from the reading rota at Cobh Cathedral by its administrator, Fr John Mc Carthy.

He went public on the row and yesterday had a “very fruitful meeting” with the Bishop of Cloyne, William Crean, who was unaware of Fr Mc Carthy’s move before he heard about it in the media.

Bishop Willliam Crean and Mr Curtin, a committed Catholic, spent just under an hour discussing Mr Curtin’s issues with the Church’s blanket opposition to abortion.

“We didn’t reach a firm conclusion but I got a good opportunity to present my case and the bishop listened. He meanwhile re-iterated how the right to life is a core Church belief, “ he said.

However, Bishop Crean said he would like Fr McCarthy to be present when any final decision is agreed around Mr Curtin’s future as a minister of the word.

I'd a fruitful pastoral meeting with Bishop Crean today. We will be meeting again on Wednesday afternoon when Fr. John will also be present.

— Ken Curtin 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 (@kencurtin) May 23, 2016

Mr Curtin, who stood for the Social Democrats in the most recent election, said Bishop Crean did not express an opinion around abortion in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities or around the grounds for abortion in a pregnancy caused by rape.

The former branch secretary of Cobh’s Fianna Fáil cumann said he has received a lot of support from priests outside the diocese who also believe the Church should not be alienating Mass-goers.

Mr Curtin had expressed fears that Fr McCarthy’s decision could set a national precedent for ministers of the word, ministers of the eucharists, and choirs and would be a retrograde step when Mass attendance is falling.

He said while he may have campaigned for a yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum and joined a party that is seeking a repeal of the Eighth Amendment, his “faith is important” to him.

“I’m not a holy Joe but I am religious compared to most of my peers. I have a deep faith and am active in my Church and I have a major interest in scripture,” he said.

Reverend James Moore, the Cloyne diocesan secretary was also present at the meeting.

Last night he said that it was a “cordial and fruitful meeting , pastoral in nature” and confirmed that the two men will meet again with Fr John McCarthy. Mr Curtin stood as a candidate in the Cork East constituency, but failed to be elected.

He also campaigned for a yes vote in the marriage equality referendum.