Priests refuse communion to unmarried parents

Two Kerry priests said they will refuse communion to unmarried parents of children making their first communion.

Fr Patrick McCarthy of Abbeydorney, Co Kerry, said he had made the decision in accordance with the rules of the Catechism. The sexual act, he said, was only to take place within marriage and "outside of marriage it always constitutes a grave sin".

This excludes people from the sacrament of communion, he said.

His views are shared by Fr Richard O'Connor, the parish priest in Lixnaw, Co Kerry, said Fr Patrick McCarthy.

If you receive the Eucharist, you come with the proper disposition, otherwise why should a person come at all? Fr Patrick McCarthy of Abbeydorney

Fr McCarthy said he had approached three unmarried couples whose children were due to make their first communion in his parish shortly and explained his position.

Two women were surprised by his decision but accepted it. A third woman accused him of "making up the rules", he told RTÉ radio today.

But Fr McCarthy said that if anyone presented themselves for Communion at the altar, he would be powerless to refuse. "They will get a blessing and hopefully a smile."

"If you receive the Eucharist, you come with the proper disposition, otherwise why should a person come at all?" Fr McCarthy said, adding he would be "very, very disappointed" if anyone behaved otherwise.

The Bishop of Kerry, Dr William Murphy, could not be contacted for comment this afternoon.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office yesterday show births outside marriage comprise almost a third of all births in the State in 2000.