Concelebration ignored the real differences of belief that exist

ALTHOUGH I must have written about 250,000 words since starting this column over four years ago, I’ve never had occasion to use the Irish word “lúdramán”. Perhaps I shouldn’t use it now either in this, my last column.

But the ecclesiastical antics of Augustinian priest Fr Iggy O’Donovan and his colleagues in the priory in Drogheda bring the word irresistibly to mind.

As readers will now know, Easter Sunday Mass in the priory was concelebrated by three Catholic priests including Fr O’Donovan but also, at Fr O’Donovan’s invitation, the Church of Ireland rector of St Peter’s in Drogheda, Rev Michael Graham. Such concelebration is not permitted by the Catholic Church.