Bishop criticises disregard for church services

The Bishop of Kerry last night said it did not make any sense "if a couple who are not believers ask for a church wedding. And one wonders if it makes any sense if a couple who do not go to Mass expect a Mass on the occasion of their wedding."

In a homily at the Chrism Mass in St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, he said he was addressing "those who are not here and who don't come to church very often.

"We have to ask ourselves too if it makes any sense if parents who do not share the faith of the church, or parents who do not go to Mass, present their children for the sacraments."

Priests "may not administer sacraments to children unless we are satisfied that faith is present in the parents or some other significant adults in the lives of the children who will surround them with an atmosphere of Christian faith . . ."

He criticised the use at weddings "of videos and cameras, even during the most solemn and sacred part of the ceremony, namely, the exchange of vows; and the use of secular songs instead of hymns and secular readings".

Similarly, he felt "the sacredness of the funeral Mass is compromised by things that would be more appropriate outside the funeral liturgy such as secular songs and music, eulogies and inappropriate items in the offertory procession".

He reflected how "in recent years many Catholics in Ireland have become very negligent in celebrating the sacraments, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist, Confession, Matrimony and even the Anointing of the Sick". He believed this to be "a sign of loss of faith". Celebrating the sacraments demanded faith, he said.

"People who do not share this faith will consider the sacraments meaningless rituals and empty rites and should not receive them. To do so would be a lie, a charade, an abuse," he said. "Disregard for the dignity and sacredness of the sacraments is also shown when people attach more importance to the clothes, presents and meals than to the spiritual and religious significance of Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and, indeed, Ordination," the bishop said.