Hasty reaction to General Synod vote on Human Sexuality not helpful – Dean; Graham Norton drops in on his old school; Archbishop of Armagh’s concern for UN Iraq visit; Diocesan news including Clogher Pentecost Open – Air Service; Carrigaline school blessing; Friends of St Patricks and Sunday School Society AGMS.
Hasty reaction to General Synod vote on Human Sexuality not helpful – Dean
The Dean of Cork has said in a sermon that “There are many years to go in this process and so hasty reaction to the.. motion is not helpful.”
Very Rev Nigel Dunne continued, “There may well be change in the future – it is worth remembering that canon 31 only emerged in the light of the decision to remarry divorced persons. Here social change led to a radical change in the Church of Ireland’s teaching on marriage. In fact there was no canon governing marriage before that.
“There are many years to go in this process and so hasty reaction to yesterday’s motion is not helpful.
“Gender, race, creed, sexuality – are no grounds for exclusion in any Christian community and therefore I reiterate what I have said before: All are welcome to this holy place regardless of any of these.
“In our Gospel reading this morning Jesus tells the disciples – “This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.” This has to be the bottom line for Christian communities, as it was for Peter and his contemporaries in Acts. God continually challenges us to love, to recognise the gift of his Holy Spirit bestowed freely in creation, not least in Baptism. There is a serious discrepancy in the teaching of any church that on the one hand invokes the Holy Spirit upon them in Baptism and on the other then tells them they are not welcome.”
http://churchofirelandcork.com/author/churchofirelandcork/
Graham Norton drops in on his old school
Irish Examiner – Extensions at Bandon school
Archbishop of Armagh’s concern for UN Iraq visit
The Most Reverend Dr. Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and The Most Revd Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and 13 other Bishops and clergy condemn the trip to Iran by Martin Kobler, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq and his discussing the fate of the residents of Ashraf and Liberty with Iranian oppressors.
In the statement the church leaders express their dismay that the trip has been organised while the Iranian regime did not allow Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Iran to travel to that country. They fear that the name of UNAMI will be misused by a regime that has been condemned 58 times for violation of human rights in Iran to exert more pressure on Iraq to annihilate its main opposition symbolised in Ashraf residents. The religious leaders argue that any dialogue with the Iranian regime on the dossier of Ashraf is in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the UN and Iraqi government over the fate of 3,400 Iranian dissidents. It is also in violation of various international laws and mandates on the rights of refugees. They express concern that involving Iranian regime in this dossier “means playing a role in further bloodshed of Ashraf residents and innocent families in Iran”.
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/5/17/ACNS5107
Clogher Pentecost Open–Air Service at Inniskeen
On the afternoon of Sunday 27th May 2012 at 3.00pm, the Day of Pentecost, the annual open–air service which has customarily been led by both Bishops of Clogher will take place this year at the historic site of Inniskeen in County Monaghan, close to the border with Counties Louth and Armagh. This will be the first time that the service takes place at Inniskeen, a site of historical importance for the early Christian Church in this region. This will also be a significant year as it will be first time in which the new Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd John McDowell, takes part in the service. He will join with the Most Revd Liam MacDaid, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher, to lead this special open–air service.
Inniskeen dates from the late Neolithic to the early Christian period. A monastery was founded on the site in the 6th century by St Daigh MacCarell, it was later burned in 789, subsequently plundered by the Vikings in 948, and burned a second time in 1166. However, the lower third of the original round tower remains. The arrival of the Normans saw the construction of a Motte–and–bailey in the 13th century, and the motte is still standing to this day. The arrival of the Augustinian order of monks saw the construction of a new monastery, and one section of the monastery wall remains. The Church of Ireland Parish Church of Inniskeen was rebuilt on the ancient site in 1854, and was eventually closed in 1970.
During the service two young people from the local area will each give a reflection of the subject of Pentecost. Bishop MacDaid will deliver a talk based on the readings, from the book of Ezekiel and the Gospel of John.
After the service there will be a talk delivered by Sr Una Agnew on the spirituality of Patrick Kavanagh, one of the foremost Irish poets of the 20th century. Inniskeen was the birthplace and childhood home of Kavanagh, and he is buried along with his wife in Inniskeen graveyard. A warm invitation is extended to all.
Lunchtime recitals
The lunchtime recital in St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick on Wednesday will be given by organist, Antony Matthews while in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, there will be a lunchtime concert by the Luther College Nordic Choir.
Friends of St Patricks
On Thursday evening at 7.30pm the Friends of St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, will hold their AGM in the Lady Chapel and this will be followed by a talk by the Cathedral Education Officer, Andrew Smith.
Carrigaline school blessing
On Friday the Bishop of Cork will preside at the blessing and official opening of extensions to St Mary’s Church of Ireland National School, Carrigaline.
Mullingar lecture
At 8pm Bartle D’Arcy will give a lecture in Belvedere House, Mullingar, on how the events of the 1740s shaped the destiny of the Belvedere Estate. This event will be in aid of Kilbixy church roof fund
Sunday School Society AGM
The Sunday School Society for Ireland AGM will be held on Wednesday 30 May at 1pm in the Resource Centre, Holy Trinity church, Rathmines. All members are welcome to attend and more information may be had from the Resource Centre at 01–497 2821 or at info@sundayschoolsociety.ie
Low turnout of priests for Cardinal Brady
Just 20 out of a total of 150 priests in the Armagh archdiocese turned up to a recent gathering organised in support of Cardinal Sean Brady.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18114433
IEC2012: Ireland carves a prayer for healing in stone
Vatican Radio – …’The Healing Stone’ and it will remain as a permanent reminder of the human toll of the abuse of children, a lasting memorial to the bravery and heroism of victims, a constant prayer for reconciliation within the Church in Ireland, carved in stone.
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http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=588864