Priest defends joint Mass decision

THE priest at the centre of a major ecumenical row has defended his decision to organise a concelebrated Mass involving three Catholic priests and a Church of Ireland minister on Easter Sunday.

Augustinian friar Fr Iggy O’Donovan yesterday stood over his invitation to Church of Ireland minister Michael Graham to join him and other Catholic priests in an Easter Mass at his order’s priory in Drogheda, Co Louth.

Fr O’Donovan also said he would not rule out organising a similar ceremony in the future.

However, he stressed that last week’s Mass involving clergy from the Catholic and Protestant traditions was “symbolic and once-off for the moment”.

“It is very sad when the Eucharist becomes a symbol of division and discord,” said Fr O’Donovan who claimed the reaction from ordinary members of the public to the event was “overwhelmingly positive”.

Concern about the decision to allow a Protestant clergyman to concelebrate a Eucharist Mass has been expressed by both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland leaders.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Seán Brady, has ordered an inquiry into the Mass which he claimed was not held in the interests of “true ecumenism”.

The Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh, Robin Eames, has also sought more information about the Mass which he suggested was well-intentioned but potentially misleading.

However, Fr O’Donovan said he believed much of the debate surrounding intercommunion between the Christian churches involved the “hair-splitting” of theological differences.

The priest said he was prompted to arrange the Mass after the public appeal by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to find inclusive ways of celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising.

“I decided to break bread together like the early Christians,” he said.

It is believed to be the first time since the 16th century Reformation that a Protestant minister has celebrated a Catholic Mass.

Fr O’Donovan said he had been aware he was entering “an ecumenical minefield” which would provoke some reaction.

He also acknowledged the concerns of senior figures in the various churches but insisted that there was no manipulation or false hopes arising out of the Mass in Drogheda.

“Nothing has been said formally to me,” said Fr O’Donovan.

He said he was not concerned about the possible consequences of being the focus of a Church inquiry. He had not taken the decision lightly to invite Rev Graham to join him in concelebrating the mass, he said.

The Provincial of the Augustinian Order in Ireland Fr Gerry Horan was unavailable for comment as he is on a week’s retreat.

As Fr O’Donovan’s superior, Fr Horan is likely to be involved in any formal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the controversial Mass.

It is understood Fr Horan was not aware of Fr O’Donovan’s intention to celebrate the Eucharist with a Church of Ireland minister.