Strong words…
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has released a statement in response to comments made by Minister Josepha Madigan at a local mass on Sunday.
Madigan, who is the Minister for Culture and Heritage, stepped in at a ceremony in Mount Merrion when a priest did not arrive.
Archbishop Martin seemed to take issue with the fact that Madigan was said to have “said mass”, and issued quite a strong response on Tuesday morning.
In the statement, Martin spoke about how it was completely incorrect to imply that the Minister said mass, and said that it was “regrettable that Minister Madigan used this occasion to push a particular agenda”.
He went on to say that: “Minister Madigan might consider listening to the voices of those people who disagree with her public comments, she might consider the hurt she has caused to parishioners who deem her actions deeply disrespectful.”
You can read the statement in full here.
Madigan did not read the Gospel as these acts can only be carried out by a priest.
She did however lead the mass in prayer at the Church of St Therese in Mount Merrion.
The “agenda” that Archbishop Martin referred to in the statement was Madigan’s belief that women should be allowed to be ordained by the Catholic Church.
Madigan issued a response to Martin’s statement on Tuesday evening, saying: “The only agenda I am pushing is the one of equality.
“I feel there should be equality in the Church just as I believe there should be equality in all facets of society.”
You can read Madigan’s statement in full here.
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