A rift has emerged within the Irish Catholic Church after it emerged that a priest had refused Communion to an Irish politician because he had voted in favour of the liberalisation of abortion laws following the 2018 referendum that paved the way for abortion in Ireland.
Colm Burke, Fine Gael's Teachta Dála (TD: the Irish equivalent of an MP) for Cork North Central, had been attending a funeral Mass for a constituent and party colleague in the parish of Blarney on the outskirts of Cork city, which part of the diocese of Cloyne that covers much of Cork’s hinterland.
When the TD approached the priest to receive Communion, Father Gabriel Burke – not known to be any relation – put his hand on the chalice and told the junior minister that he was excommunicated.<br><br><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/soul-of-medicine-lost-in-ireland-amid-soaring-abortion-rates/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">March for Life addresses ‘soul of medicine’ being lost in Ireland amid ‘soaring’ abortion rates</mark></a></strong>
Deputy Burke was not a TD at the time of the 2018 vote, rather a senator, which, while also involved in the legislative process, is a more advisory role that wields less political power. He has written to the Bishop of Cloyne, Dr William Crean, seeking clarification as to his "status in attending future Church ceremonies in the diocese", <a href="https://extra.ie/2024/07/16/news/irish-news/priests-association-communion"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports</mark></a> Irish media <em>Extra.ie</em>.
Bishop Crean has reportedly been unwell but intends to speak to both Deputy Burke and Father Burke.
Deputy Burke has subsequently spoken about how the funeral Mass was for a local party member he had known for over 35 years and how the incident risked overshadowing the main purpose of the funeral: <br><br>"What is of importance is that there was a family grieving including his sister, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends," Deputy Burke said. "The incident…must not deflect from the purpose of the funeral Mass – to support the family of the person who died, to celebrate the person’s achievements and the valuable contribution he made to both his immediate family and the wider local community of Whitechurch through out his life."
<em>Extra.ie</em> notes that a spokesman for the diocese told the <em>Irish Daily Mail </em>that the politician was not excommunicated.
The Association of Catholic Priests, which provides a forum for priests to reflect, discuss and comment on issues affecting the Irish Church and society today, has <a href="https://associationofcatholicpriests.ie/acp-statement-on-refusing-holy-communion-to-a-public-representative/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">spoken out on the incident</mark></a> and "unambiguously condemned" Father Burke’s refusal of the sacrament.
In its statement, the Association of Catholic Priests said that before the Eighth Amendment was repealed, Irish women were travelling abroad to use abortion services, while "legislators and citizens looked the other way".
It added: "Procurement of an abortion is complex, morally and medically. Legislators have to balance two sets of rights, the right of the unborn child to life and the free decision-making right of the mother. Public representatives are tasked with finding a balance between both."
The statement also said that "like every member of the Catholic Church, public representatives must act in accordance with their conscience. <br><br>It added: "It is not the role of the priest to judge the conscience of another person. The priest does not own the Eucharist and would do well to ponder the statement of Pope Francis that he has never refused the Eucharist to anyone."<br><br>The statement concluded by noting that "a particularly aggravating factor in this incident was that the dismissal of a public representative occurred in the context of a funeral Mass".
Father Tim Hazelwood, a priest in Cork and member of the Association of Catholic Priests, said he did not believe Communion "should be used in that way", reports <em>Extra.ie</em>.
Father Hazelwood said there are "[other] ways of putting our point across and this [the refusal of Communion] will alienate people more".
He continued: "When does it end if we start doing that…Who is worthy to receive Communion? How many of us would fit into the club if you had to qualify and be perfect?"
Following this line of thought, Father Hazelwood then questioned whether, based on the logic used by the priest who refused giving Communion to the politician, it also meant that the two-thirds of Irish voters who backed the repeal of the Eighth Amendment were all to be excommunicated too.
While Father Burke has been criticised by colleagues, he has also received support from many Catholics – especially through comments on social media – who feel he is taking a needed stance to uphold the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of unborn life.<br><br><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-battle-for-irelands-catholic-soul-will-only-continue-in-2024/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">The battle for Ireland’s Catholic soul will not slacken in 2024</mark></a><br></strong><br><em>(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images.)</em>
.jpg)
