Let laity speak for unborn at Mass – Bishop Farrell

Parishioners play a vital role in informing Mass-goers about Catholic social issues, including the right to life, a bishop has said.

Commenting in response to a statement from the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), which lamented the presence of pro-life speakers at Catholic Masses, Ossory’s bishop Dermot Farrell told RTÉ that there is a tradition in the Catholic Church, down through the years, of lay people preaching in church on various issues including the right to life and other social issues.

He added that lay people complement priests and are not there to replace them, stressing that they are able to defend Catholic teaching on the right to life of the unborn.

The ACP statement released May 4, said the group were concerned that some Catholic parishes are allowing their pulpits to be used by campaigners during Mass.

“As there are, among faithful, Church-going Catholics, a great variety of opinions on this vote, we believe this is inappropriate and insensitive and will be regarded by some as an abuse of the Eucharist. We believe it would be better if this practice ceased for the rest of the campaign,” the letter read.

Echoing Bishop Farrell’s comments, pro-life group Save the 8th said that campaigners should be allowed to educate voters about abortion at Mass as it is “an issue that is both of social concern, and of deep relevance to their spiritual beliefs”.

“We will never decline an invitation to educate voters about the extremity of the Government’s proposal, which legalises abortion for healthy mothers, and healthy babies, for any reason at all.

“Our campaign shares, and applauds, the deep commitment of the Christian community to the values of respect for the life and dignity of every human individual. These values and beliefs are not limited to people of Faith and are shared by people of no religion whatsoever.”