Courtney McGrailDear Editor, Kindly permit me a few lines in relation to a short article in last week’s edition entitled ‘Surprise at decision not to ‘regularise’ Kilfenora status’ (IC 05/02/2015).
The article was based on a tweet of mine in response to the announcement from the Vatican that the dioceses of Cashel and Emly were to be formally united by a decree from the Holy See, a decision which is in itself just a sensible, minor and uncontroversial matter of canonical housekeeping.
The text of my tweet was: “Interesting! Though I wonder why they didn’t also regularise the anomalous interprovincial status of the episkopé of Kilfenora.”
This was merely an expression of passing academic and legal curiosity in knowing whether or not – in looking closely at the ecclesiastical province and in tidying up its legal loose ends – the relevant authorities might also have considered the related ancient Diocese of Kilfenora, and its unique status whereby our apostolic administrator – who serves in the name of the Pope – is a bishop of the metropolitan area of the Archdiocese of Tuam, whereas our ecclesiastical territory is in the metropolitan area of the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. No surprise, dismay or criticism was intended.
The people of this deanery and its priests are busy living out their faith and building up the Kingdom of God through prayer, sacrament, and the service of others. I have never heard anyone express even the slightest anxiety about our canonical uniqueness.
In fact, it would be hard to imagine any aspect of Church life which would be of less concern to the faithful of this spectacularly beautiful part of north Clare! On the contrary, I think the priests and people that I know are proud of our famous ‘anomaly’ as it gives our tiny faith communities a voice at both provincial episcopal conferences, and especially because it gives us a closer bond than any other diocese in Ireland with the Church of Rome and with our beloved Pope Francis.
Yours etc.,
Fr Conor Cunningham PP VF,
Lisdoonvarna,
Co. Clare