Bishop suggests delaying Confirmation to age of 16

The Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has suggested the sacrament of Confirmation be taken out of primary schools and not administered until pupils reach 16 years of age.

The bishop said it is important students are re-awoken to the fact that being a Catholic is an option.

At the launch in Adare last night of Catholic Schools Week, Bishop Leahy said sacramental ceremonies can have little resonance for the child and often appear like a prefabricated package of Irish heritage that is to be discarded nonchalantly later in life as part of a “throwaway culture”.