Dear Editor,
Mr Ken Curtin of Cobh appears to blame local church authorities for his removal as church reader at St Colman’s Cathedral. Mr Curtin has nobody to blame but himself if he does not meet the qualification for this role. Paragraph 101 of the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, echoing the sentiments of Vatican Council document Sacrosanctum Concilium (esp. Nos. 24 & 29) states simply that the lay reader must be “truly suited to carrying out this function and carefully prepared”.
This has universally been interpreted – and it would be hard to envision otherwise – as inter alia, requiring adherence to essential Church teaching. The nature of marriage as being between man and woman and respecting and protecting the life of the unborn are among such essential teachings, spoken of frequently in our times by the highest levels of the Magisterium. Mr Curtin has opted to undermine both of these principles in the course of his political and social activism.
Readership is not an automatic entitlement and Mr Curtin has unfortunately chosen by the causes he espouses to exclude himself from this ministry of service.
Yours etc.,
Maurice O’Brien,
Cork city.
