Catholic children should prepare for their sacraments outside school

IT would be an understatement to say that the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Very Rev Robert McCarthy, is unafraid of controversy.

Since his appointment a few years ago, he has seemed bent on emulating his distant predecessor, Jonathan Swift, in his provocative public comments.

Last year, he refused to attend a Government reception in honour of Cardinal Connell. The Dean objected to an invitation issued jointly in the names of Bertie Ahern and Celia Larkin.