C of I group support for equal marriage legislation; Support St Fin Barre’s auction, says Flatley; Dun Laoghaire Service of Introduction; ‘Being a woman has never been an issue’ – Rev Heather Morris; New campaigns against cyber bullying launched; Magdalene report
C of I group support for equal marriage legislation
Canon Charles Kenny, Secretary of the Church of Ireland pro-gay group Changing Attitude Ireland commenting last night on the debate in the UK House of Commons yesterday evening on the second reading of the Marriage (same sex couples) Bill which extends civil marriage to same sex couples said:
“Civil Partnership passed into law without any official approbation from British or Irish churches; on the contrary they opposed it all the way. Today, only a few years later, religious people who now oppose same gender marriages are very keen to express their whole-hearted support for this same civil partnership, just so long as it is not “marriage”.
This suggests that their objection arises because, at base, the religious critics deny the validity, or even the possibility, of love between two people of the same gender. They restrict the “mutual society, help, and comfort” sought and desired by almost all human beings to being something possible only between a man and a woman; and they assume that God shares this view.Changing Attitude Ireland believes that this is not the case; we rejoice that increasingly people of our time have a broader conception of love, and we welcome the UK Prime Minister’s initiative.
“Furthermore, since many church spokespeople now speak so positively of Civil Partnerships, can we in the Church of Ireland have some forms of Blessing approved for pastors who wish to use them for parishioners entering Civil Partnerships?”
Support St Fin Barre’s auction, says Flatley
Sean O’Riordan writes in The Examiner – Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is urging people to support a major charity auction, the proceeds of which will be used for the conservation of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
Flatley, a longtime supporter of the cathedral, described it as an integral part of Cork’s history and heritage. He urged people to donate fine art and antiques to the cause.
St Fin Barre’s is partnering with Sheppard’s Irish Art Auction House for the May 28 auction in Fota House.
Items that may be put up for auction include jewellery, silver and plate, oriental items, porcelain and glass, collectibles, furniture, clocks and watches, garden furniture and statuary, pictures maps and prints, rare and antiquarian books, particularly of Cork interest, fine wines, and unusual novelty items.
All items for the auction should be donated by Mar 11.
Following the success of an Antiques Valuation Roadshow last October, a similar event will take place next month where prospective sellers will get the chance to have their items valued for free by experts from the Irish Antiques Dealers’ Association.
Details of the date and times of that event will be announced shortly.
In order to maintain the quality of the sale a minimum lot value of €100-€200 will be used as a guideline for sellers who can then choose to donate either 50% or 100% of the hammer price to the cathedral conservation project.
Money raised from the auction will support the cathedral’s restoration project which is now in its fourth phase.
The proposed work includes the completion of the full restoration of the exterior stonework of the south transept (Dean’s Chapel) and emergency works to gargoyles.
Work on restoring all three spires has already been completed. Earlier projects to protect the structure involved re-roofing, re-gilding the angel and refurbishing the bells.
Internally, apart from the continuing programme of marble and plaster work restoration, rebuilding of the cathedral organ is at an advanced stage.
St Fin Barre’s has assembled an experienced auction committee who can be contacted on 021-4963387, or by email at auction@cork.anglican.org
* www.cathedral.cork.anglican.org
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/support-st-fin-barres-auction-says-flatley-221535.html
Dun Laoghaire Service of Introduction
The Service of Introduction of the Revd Ása Björk Ólafsdóttir as Vicar of Christ Church Dun Laoghaire took place on January 31. The service was presided over by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson and was attended by the Right Revd Kristján Valur Ingólfsson, Bishop of Skálholt, Iceland, who preached.
A large number of clergy were also in attendance both from Dublin and Glendalough and Meath and Kildare where Ása served as Rector of Kells and Donaghpatrick prior to her appointment in Dun Laoghaire. Among the clergy were the Bishop–elect of Meath and Kildare, the Revd Leslie Stevenson and the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne. Local dignitaries were also present including Ceann Comhairle of Dail Eireann, Deputy Sean Barrett and members of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Parishioners from Kells also braved the driving rain to wish their former rector well. Ása’s daughter, Messíana, was also present and sang during Communion.
In his sermon Bishop Kristján Valur Ingólfsson stressed the importance of Ása’s appointment to Dun Laoghaire in the journey to a closer Porvoo Communion. Both the Church of Ireland and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland, in which Ása was ordained, are part of the Porvoo Communion, a fellowship of Anglican and Lutheran churches in northern Europe who celebrate their unity as churches and who share a common sacramental life and ministry through the Porvoo Declaration.
The Bishop said that he came from a large family and that while they were all different, they came from the same parents. Likewise, he said that the different congregations and churches were all one family. “We are all children of God. Born to eternal life through Baptism, we are one in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are all different but we belong to the one and only Lord and we are one in Him,” he stated.
‘Being a woman has never been an issue’
The New Letter carried a feature by Gemma Murray on Rev Heather Morris –
“One of the things I love about Methodism is that being a woman does not actually matter,” said president designate, Rev Heather Morris.
“I have not been treated any differently. It has never been an issue.”
The 48-year-old mother of two boys (Peter, 20, and David, 17) knows when God called her; He also called her husband Neil.
Rev Morris met her husband in Dublin, when she was training to be a speech therapist at Trinity College in Dublin.
Neil, an accountant, also lived in the city.
“It was a big change for him when he found out God was calling me,” she said. “It was huge for him and really tough.
“We actually broke up for a while because we couldn’t work out how being a married woman minister could work.
“It has been a real journey for both of us. We got back together a year later when we felt it could work.
“For Neil it meant giving up a brilliant job in Dublin and coming north.
“And because Methodist ministers are moved frequently it meant him being willing to say he would look for jobs as we are moved, which was a huge thing.
“We married when I was 23 years old.”
Rev Morris said her husband’s “faith was key” as “he felt that God was calling us both to this and we were in it together”. Before Rev Morris was ordained, she was no stranger to her forthcoming duties as both her father and grandfather were also Methodist ministers.
Whilst the first female Methodist minister was ordained in the 1970s, Rev Morris said when she “was called” she joined a small number of female clerics.
But times have changed. Rev Morris said there are now more than 20 women working in Methodist churches across Ireland. More at :
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/lifestyle/features/being-a-woman-has-never-been-an-issue-1-4752368
C campaigns against cyber bullying launched
Journal – Teen-led campaign Watch Your Space and the Garda programme Connect with Respect were launched by Minister Ruairí Quinn and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.
http://www.thejournal.ie/new-campaigns-against-cyber-bullying-launched-782051-Feb2013/
Belfast Telegraph report on web protection initiative in NI
Magdalene report published
Irish Times news report
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2013/0205/breaking6.html
Irish Times Comment
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2013/0205/1224329656988.html
In numbers: the report into the State’s role in the Magdalene Laundries
Journal – A selection of numerical statistics drawn from the Inter-Departmental report, and about the report itself.
http://www.thejournal.ie/magdalene-laundries-report-in-numbers-783734-Feb2013/
BBC – The Irish government is to publish a report later into state involvement with Magdalene laundries, a network of Catholic-run workhouses
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21326221