Service led by women halted after protest threats

THE first Eucharistic service performed by women had to be transferred from All Hallows College last night after more than 30 members of the public objected and threatened to protest outside.

The Vatican has banned women priests and Cardinal Ratzinger has decreed that anyone who thinks it is possible to ordain women priests will be excommunicated.

The group holding the first Eucharistic service performed by women were BASIC Brothers and Sisters in Christ who have been campaigning for the past 10 years for the ordination of women.

But BASIC decided not to hold the service in All Hallows College conference centre because they did not want to disrupt other meetings. Instead they got an alternative venue.

One of the women who presided over the Eucharistic service, Soline Vatinel, said that after she spoke on the radio at lunchtime yesterday, the college was inundated with calls from more than 30 members of the public objecting to the former seminary being used as a venue for such a service.

"In fairness to All Hallows they were prepared to honour the booking of the room but we did not want to cause any disruption to other meetings and a play that was taking place there," Ms Vatinel said.

And she stressed that All Hallows did not endorse the Eucharistic service they had planned to hold there.

All Hallows College confirmed in a statement that BASIC had booked a room on a commercial basis in their conference centre, Purcell House, and after some discussion throughout the day decided they no longer required the room.

The members of the public objected to All Hallows being used as a venue because they said the service was against the Catholic Church's teaching on women priests.

But BASIC believes there is nothing in the scripture to stop women being ordained priests. And Ms Vatinel said she is not afraid of being excommunicated for presiding over the Eucharist service.

The Apostolic Nunciature which represents Pope John Paul 11 in Ireland said yesterday it had no information on the possible excommunication of the BASIC members.

"This falls within the remit of the local diocese," a spokeswoman added.

A spokesman for Dublin Archbishop Cardinal Desmond Connell could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.