Sir, - The latest controversy on intercommunion is a further reminder that the deep and painful wounds, inflicted throughout history on the Body of Christ, must be approached with tenderness, love and reverence. There are areas of real contention, particularly our differing understandings of the Eucharist and the nature of authority. These issues must be faced with patience and honesty, without attempting to paper over the cracks.
However, we must admit that there has been infidelity to God in both the Catholic and Reformed traditions. The 16thCentury "Protestant Revolt", although influenced by many other complex realities, was most certainly not unrelated to the scandal of spiritual abuse and corruption in dysfunctional ecclesiastical structures.
Many of those in positions of power lorded it over the Lord's flock, treating God's children cruelly and harshly (Ezekiel 34:4). The temptation for some to exalt themselves proved too great. There came into being a system of subjugation and subservience, a culture of self-serving clericalism and self-seeking ambition.
The Protestant tradition also, particularly through what has been termed "bibliolatry", is also guilty of power abuse. The Bible itself, through misuse and false interpretation, has often been wielded as a stick with which to beat people. There still exists in Ireland, for example, even within the mainstream Protestant denominations, a virulent antipathy towards Catholicism that has been canonised and sanctified as the mark of the truly "saved". Moreover, the excessive individualism that can be found in Protestantism has led to the further tragic fragmentation of the Christian family.
Most surely, Cardinal Connell did not intend to cause hurt by his recent reiteration of Catholic teaching on intercommunion. The fact that offence was taken reminds all of us, in the various Christian traditions, of our interconnectedness, for we are inextricably interwoven and inseparably intermingled. Put starkly, the pain that is experienced in these matters is Christ's own pain on behalf of His Mystical Body, pierced by sin and division. Our tearing away from one another simultaneously wounds both ourselves and Jesus Christ.
A sadly impoverished view of the One True Church takes account only of correct teaching and a valid apostolic succession. No one should doubt the vital importance of doctrine and truth. Nevertheless, love reigns supreme over all. - Yours, etc.,
Father Patrick McCafferty, Glenview Street, Belfast 14.