The installation yesterday evening of a Roman Catholic priest, the noted theologian Prof Enda McDonagh, as an ecumenical canon of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, is an occasion of joy and one that ought to be welcomed by everyone on this island. The ceremony follows that of last Sunday when a former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Very Rev Dr Ken Newell OBE, became the first ecumenical canon of the cathedral.
As the Most Rev Ian Harper, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, noted at the installation of Dr Newell, for too long relations between Christians on this island have been shaped by the religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, perpetuated into the 20th century with horrific consequences. By contrast there now exists a worthy example of Christian fellowship, a generous gesture in keeping with the message of ecumenism enunciated by Dr Harper at the ceremony for Dr Newell.
What has been set in place - described by its proponents as a "first small step" - is actually quite remarkable. Henceforth, St Patrick's Cathedral, the national cathedral for the Church of Ireland, will have two canons from outside the ranks of its own clergy. They may participate fully in the cathedral's decision-making body on ecclesiastical matters.
Father McDonagh and Dr Newell were elected to their positions last month by the dean and chapter of the cathedral under authority granted by the church's general synod in May. A proposal put forward by two clergy, the Rev Canon Trevor Williams of Connor and the Very Rev Leslie Forrest of Ferns, was designed specifically to foster ecumenism. Their bill said the two new canons from outside the Church of Ireland could be invited by the dean to say Morning or Evening Prayer in the cathedral, read the Holy Scriptures at any service and assist at a baptismal, marriage, funeral service or at the celebration of the Holy Communion. There is, of course, no obligation to participate in Holy Communion but the invitation is there.
The two new canons have been well chosen. Dr Newell began his stint as Presbyterian moderator by inviting the Roman Catholic Archbishop, Most Rev Seán Brady, to attend his inauguration and his period in office was replete with ecumenical gestures that stand proud in an otherwise at times depressing religious landscape in Northern Ireland. Father McDonagh has a long record of generous engagement with other denominations and, as Dr Harper has noted, has honoured St Patrick's and the wider church it serves by accepting his canonry.