Greg DalyA Cork-based political activist has described as “a complete bolt from the blue” a decision to remove him from Cobh cathedral’s roster of readers because of his membership of the Social Democrats, who advocate the removal of the Eighth (Life Equality) Amendment.
Cobh’s onetime Fianna Fáil cumann secretary Ken Curtin learned after Mass on Sunday, May 15, that he had been dropped from the lector rota at St Colman’s Cathedral, he told The Irish Catholic. Surprised at not seeing his name on the rota, he was advised to speak to the cathedral administrator, Fr John McCarthy.
“Fr John told me that he had removed me from the list of lectors because of my party’s view on repealing the Eighth and my own support of the Social Democrats’ position,” he said, “and regardless of my own personal position, either way, as long as I was a member of a party that was a supporter of something against a core Church belief, I couldn’t be a lector at the same time.”
Stressing that Fr McCarthy apologised for not having warned him of this in advance, Mr Curtin added that he had not been “banned from going to Mass or banned from receiving Communion”.
“My faith is very important to me,” he said, claiming that Fr McCarthy had had “huge issues” with him since he campaigned for a ‘Yes’ vote during last year’s marriage referendum.
Fr McCarthy declined to comment, saying he hoped to meet Mr Curtin during the week.