Cardinal’s invite rejection may be tied to embassy closure

Fresh controversy linked to the Government’s decision to close its Vatican embassy has erupted, as a senior US cleric has turned down an invitation to a St Patrick’s Day event at which Taoiseach Enda Kenny will speak.

It was confirmed at the weekend Cardinal Francis George of Chicago had declined an invitation to a high-profile event hosted by an Irish-American organisation on Mar 16 which will be attended by Mr Kenny as part of the Taoiseach’s traditional St Patrick’s Day visit to the US.

Although Cardinal George said he was he was otherwise engaged on that date, his non-attendance at the St Patrick’s Day dinner in Chicago hosted by the Irish Fellowship Club is being seen as a snub over the Government’s decision to close its Vatican embassy.