The conversion to Roman Catholicism by the wife of a Church of Ireland bishop has been welcomed as a "positive indicator" of how much the two churches have in common.
Anita Henderson, spouse of Dr Richard Henderson, Church of Ireland bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, was received into the Catholic church by the Bishop of Killala, Dr John Fleming, last weekend.
The service took place during evening prayer at Bishop Fleming's private chapel in Ballina, Co Mayo, when Mrs Henderson was accompanied by her husband and family. She said it was "the culmination of a long journey of spiritual searching", and added: "I feel under God that this is what I am being called to do."
Dr Henderson told The Irish Timesyesterday that no further comment was being made by the couple on Mrs Henderson's decision, following the release of a joint statement by him and Dr Fleming through the Church of Ireland press office on Monday.
In the statement, the two bishops paid tribute to Mrs Henderson for her "honesty and courage", and said that she had their "good wishes, the support of our prayers and our blessing".
"We recognise that every person can freely choose his or her religious and church affiliation as a matter of conscience.
"Anita Henderson has our complete support in her choice of what she feels to be her spiritual home. Her decision, made after much heart-searching, deserves the respect of us all and we trust that all people of goodwill will share in this,"the statement said.
"This is a time of unprecedented hospitality, friendship and collaboration between our local churches. As these have developed, we have become increasingly aware of how much we have in common, and yet how distinctive the different traditions remain . . .
"We believe that such genuine and honest searching is a positive indicator in these times - and will not go unrewarded by the God we all strive to love and serve," they said.
