Sir, - You published (The Irish Times, March 26th) a list of names of some people who received Communion in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin on March 25th. The decision to publish these names was regrettable.
I long for the day when there will be no Christian "denominations", but one body of people united in the one Body of Christ. In our present situation, there are varying teachings about whether it is right to partake in Holy Communion in a church of another denomination. But the decision by an individual to do so or not, either in the church of one's own denomination or in another, is a personal matter which should in no way be politicised, even for a worthy end like Christian unity.
Thankfully, we have left behind the days when names and the amount of offerings were announced publicly in Catholic churches. It would be most regrettable if the press, or any part of the media, were to resume the practice in relation to whether or not individuals receive Communion. It would be offensive to announce in church the names of those who do and do not receive Communion. It is equally offensive to publish those names in the press.
Worship is indeed a public act. Being a Christian has many personal, political and economic implications, as is clear from the teachings of Jesus. His Jubilee sermon in Nazareth (Luke Ch. 4) and the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew Ch. 5-7) would transform the world's political scene. However, our worship is damaged when it is used for political ends - for example, by linking a service of worship to a march in Northern Ireland. It would also damage our worship if we politicise a part of that worship. An individual may indeed have political as well as personal religious motives in deciding to receive Communion; we must leave that to the conscience of the person. Patsy McGarry's report did not respect this. - Yours, etc., Padraig McCarthy,
The Presbytery, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.