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Minister Batt O’Keeffe faces stern Episcopal reaction over schools cuts
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Batt O’Keeffe |
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, last week faced strong episcopal criticism over government cuts to Protestant secondary schools in the Republic, defending himself and his Department, however, on RTÉ. Speaking on Radio 1 last Friday (23rd October), Mr O’Keeffe disagreed with the Bishop of Cork, the Rt Revd Paul Colton, that cuts in funding for Protestant schools amounted to making the country "a hostile place for the children of the Protestant minority". Bishop Colton made his remark, also last Friday, while speaking at Midleton College. He further said that contrary to what the Minister had earlier stated, the bishops of the Church of Ireland, and those who worked with them, had responded to the Minister since a meeting last November.
Editorial
The Vatican and Anglicans
The announcement last week by the Vatican of a special ‘Apostolic Constitution’ to provide for traditionalist Anglicans who accept the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church to enter into communion with that Church, while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spirituality, came - as with many Vatican announcements - like a bolt from the blue. The provisions allow for the ordination as Roman Catholic priests of married former Anglican clergy. Full Text
Archbishop of Dublin sees government’s schools cuts as ‘determined and doctrinaire’
By Garrett Casey and Gazette
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| Archbishop Jon Neill addressing lask week's
Dublin and Glendalough Synods |
Concern and anger over financial cuts to voluntary Protestant secondary schools in the Republic dominated the Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Synods which took place in Christ Church, Taney parish centre last week. Delivering his presidential address, Archbishop John Neill accused the Department of Education and Science of mounting "a determined and doctrinaire effort ... to strike at a sector which some officials totally failed to understand". Referring to the decision last year by the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, to remove ancillary funding from voluntary Protestant secondary schools and increase their pupil/ teacher ratio, the Archbishop noted that the State had been dependent on religious communities to contribute to education "down the generations and still is to a large extent".
Vocation, values and vision highlighted at Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh Synod
By Craig McCauley
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| Pictured at Synod are (from left) Isla Poyntz, Susan Ferguson and Sarah Lowry |
The Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh Diocesan Synod was held on Saturday 17th October in Longford. It began with a service of Holy Communion, celebrated by Bishop Ken Clarke, with the Dean of Elphin and Ardagh, the Very Revd Arfon Williams, preaching. In his presidential address, Bishop Clarke took as his theme three words: Vocation, Values and Vision.
VOCATION AND VALUES
The bishop reminded Synod that vocation was a call of God on a person’s life, not just to ordained ministry. People were called to serve God across all walks of life. When people saw their work as God’s call, it led to them living different lives. "In the days of the Celtic tiger", said the bishop, "I wonder if we became so focused on money that the word ‘vocation’ was deleted from the dictionary and a sense of vocation was lost. "It is a time for values to be re-assessed. In the Church, we need to search our motivations for doing things, so that it is love for Christ and a sense of vocation which compels us and not personal gain, monetary recognition or reward."
Home News
Youth Update
JUMP Programme interns start a new year
By Catherine Little
The JUMP Programme interns of 2009/2010 have arrived in their respective parishes after training together in Belfast during the first weeks of September. This is the second year of the ‘Year Out’ Programme organised by the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD), in which the JUMP Programme places young adults in parishes across Ireland.
Institution
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The Revd Paul Houston (front row, left) is pictured shortly before his institution as rector of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla, Diocese of Dublin, with Archbishop John Neill (back row, extreme right) and churchwardens (left to right) Sam McKeever (Castleknock), Sadie Smullen (Mulhuddart), Valerie Fildes (Clonsilla), Margaret Tutty (Clonsilla), Michael Husey (Mulhuddart) and Rach el Devlin (Castleknock).
New GFS Diocesan President
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Beryl Thompson was recently commissioned as the Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) President for the Dioceses of Connor and Down and Dromore in Christ Church, Lisburn, by the rector, the Revd Paul Dundas. Mrs Thompson, whose daughter, Vicky, spoke at the service, is seen (left) following her commissioning, accompanied by the GFS branch leader in Christ Church, Dorothy Ervine.
World News
New Vatican announcement takes many Anglicans by surprise
Predictions that 50 bishops as well as thousands of clergy and laity might leave the worldwide Anglican Communion for the Roman Catholic Church have followed a Vatican announcement of new procedures for admitting discontented Anglicans. The Vatican announced on 20th October that Pope Benedict XVI is to set up a structure to "allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church, while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony".
Church of Sweden decision on same-sex marriage draws flak
A decision by the Church of Sweden to allow same-sex marriages to be celebrated in churches has been criticised by Lutheran Churches in Africa and also by the Church of England. The Church of Sweden is in communion with the Church of England – and the other Anglican Churches in Britain and Ireland – through the Porvoo Declaration. A majority of the Church of Sweden’s General Synod meeting in Uppsala decided on 22nd October to allow same-sex weddings in church as from 1st November, six months after the State changed the law on marriage to encompass homosexual people.
Ugandan bishop supports jail for homosexuals, opposes death
An Anglican Church leader in Uganda has rejected proposals that homosexuals should face the death penalty for sexual assault in some cases, but says that prison terms should remain as a deterrent. "We want to state categorically that homosexuality is unacceptable," Bishop Stanley Ntagali of Masindi-Kitara Diocese told Ecumenical News International in an interview.
Focus
Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Sam Wynn, Diocesan Communications Officer for Cork, Cloyne and Ross,
contributes this month’s Diocesan Focus Article
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‘Stop Judging Me’ is the title of a recent project run by the ‘Schools Work’ division of the Church of Ireland Youth Council in Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The project was the only one in Ireland to receive funding from the Anna Lindh Foundation, which leads regional initiatives and supports local organisations based across civil society which advocate for a better understanding among people, religions and beliefs. The project took place during a week which saw many youth organisations throughout Europe help young people to explore issues faced by immigrants. The Cork programme was delivered to over 400 students from multi-denominational schools. The Youth Council utilised informal methods to engage the young people; asking students to put themselves in the shoes of a foreigner just arrived in Cork.
Letters to the Editor
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Protestant schools in the Republic Full Text
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Northern Ireland mindsets Full Text
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Progressive Unionist reader Full Text
Soap
Down at St. David’s
By Ted Woods
I’m really worried about Laura." Fiona had a concerned look on her face, as she switched off the phone and turned to Steve who had just come in from a meeting. "She seems so unhappy and hasn’t made any real friends; she was always such an outgoing girl." "I suppose the fact that Jamie is still over here playing rugby instead of going to College may have something to do with it. She was very keen on him," Steve remarked, as he put on the kettle for a cup of coffee. "That’s part of it, but it’s not the whole story. Every time she rings - and it’s more often than I would have thought - Laura’s on the verge of tears. I never thought she would be homesick or lonely."
Book Reviews
CREATION IN CRISIS - CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Edited by: Robert S. White
Publisher: SPCK; pp.298
Price: £12.99
TOWARDS THE LIGHT - PRAYERS THROUGH DEPRESSION TO HEALING
Author: Denis Duncan
Publisher: SPCK; pp.96
Price: £8.99
ANCIENT FAITH, FUTURE MISSION - FRESH EXPRESSIONS IN THE SACRAMENTAL TRADITION
Edited by: Steven Croft and Ian Mobsby
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Norwich; pp.192
Between Heaven and Charing Cross
Author: Martin Warner
Publisher: Mowbray; pp.136
News Extra
Major conference on community need and action
By Earl Storey
A major conference for any Church member or leader who would like to find new ways of engaging with their community will take place on Saturday 21st November. Organised by CREED - Communities Regenerated Enabled Enriched and Developed, founded in 2006 to serve and help churches to grow and implement a vision for ministry and outreach - the conference will be held in the Jethro Centre, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. The keynote speaker will be the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Revd Ken Good.
Belfast rector launches two books
Over 50 guests from different Churches recently attended a reception in the Good Book Shop, Belfast, to mark the launch of two new books by the Revd Dr Bryan Follis, rector of All Saints’, University Street, Belfast, Diocese of Connor.
Archbishop of Armagh backs devolution of policing and justice powers
By Gerald Macartney
Addressing last week’s Armagh Diocesan Synod, Archbishop Alan Harper noted the progress made by the First and Deputy First Ministers in negotiating financial arrangements to meet the cost of policing and justice functions and said that it was greatly welcomed. He continued: "The resolve of both Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to progress this matter to a successful conclusion is to be applauded and admired. It marks an important and transformative step along the road to peace through government by consent."
Presidential Visit
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President Mary McAleese and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese (3rd left and extreme right respectively), are pictured during their visit to Holy Trinity church, Killiney, Diocese of Dublin, to attend the Harvest Thanksgiving service and to celebrate the parish’s 150th anniversary. They are accompanied by (left to right) Bishop Richard Clarke, Canon Cecil Mills (rector) and Daphne and Edgard Hall.
Appointment / Death