The Catholic primate Archbishop Seán Brady has said he "fully respects" the decision of the Moderator-designate of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland not to invite him to his installation next June.
The Rev Dr Harry Uprichard, who was elected Moderator-designate on Tuesday, has said that he would not be inviting Archbishop Brady to his installation.
The current Moderator, the Rev Dr Ken Newell, invited Archbishop Brady to his installation last June. On the day DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, led 100 members of his Free Presbyterian Church in a demonstration against Archbishop Brady's presence. Three presbyteries of the Church's 21 expressed "hurt" at Archbishop Brady's being invited.
Catholic bishops' spokesman, Mr Martin Long, said last night that "it has never been a tradition for the Catholic Church to be formally represented at the installation of a new Moderator and Archbishop Brady fully respects the decision of the new Moderator to maintain that tradition."
He said that Archbishop Brady "attended last year as a personal guest of Dr Ken Newell and looks forward to working closely with the Moderator-elect in the regular meetings and activities of the four Christian Church leaders."
It is believed unlikely that any of the three other main church leaders will be invited to the Rev Dr Uprichard's installation, though representatives of churches other than the Catholic Church are expected to attend.
