Readers of this Blog may be interested to know that a fascinating ecclesiastical drama is being played out in an Irish hotel in these days. The Bishop of Cloyne (in the County of Cork), John Magee, former secretary to two Popes, has his heart set on 're-ordering' his Cathedral. The Cathedral was designed by Pugin, and is arguably Ireland's finest. To date it has survived the ravages of the post-Vatican II period, but, alas, while the rest of the world is gradually coming to its senses, His Lordship of Cloyne has taken leave of his. The proposed alterations involve removing the altar rails, extending the sanctuary, and 're-locating' the exquisite mosaic work. Thank God, a group of local worshippers, the Friends of St Colman's Cathedral (http://www.foscc.com/), are having none of it. Permission to carry out the destruction was stealthily gained from the civil authorities, but now this is being challenged by the Friends. And here we come to the hotel. Yesterday the Irish Planning Appeals Board began a special sitting in the Midleton Park Hotel, Cork, precisely to review this case. The bishop himself was in attendance, along with his Metropolitan, and several other Lordships; but the majority of those who filled the room were ordinary folk from the Cathedral parish who are appalled at the thought of the impending demolition. Both sides have engaged expert legal representation, but the Friends have flown in two heavy-weight witnesses: a judge of the Roman Rota, and no less a liturgist than Dom Alcuin Reid, OSB. Initial indications are that the bishop has a very weak case indeed. Let us pray that good sense - the sensus fidelium - will prevail.Saving the Cathedral
Readers of this Blog may be interested to know that a fascinating ecclesiastical drama is being played out in an Irish hotel in these days. The Bishop of Cloyne (in the County of Cork), John Magee, former secretary to two Popes, has his heart set on 're-ordering' his Cathedral. The Cathedral was designed by Pugin, and is arguably Ireland's finest. To date it has survived the ravages of the post-Vatican II period, but, alas, while the rest of the world is gradually coming to its senses, His Lordship of Cloyne has taken leave of his. The proposed alterations involve removing the altar rails, extending the sanctuary, and 're-locating' the exquisite mosaic work. Thank God, a group of local worshippers, the Friends of St Colman's Cathedral (http://www.foscc.com/), are having none of it. Permission to carry out the destruction was stealthily gained from the civil authorities, but now this is being challenged by the Friends. And here we come to the hotel. Yesterday the Irish Planning Appeals Board began a special sitting in the Midleton Park Hotel, Cork, precisely to review this case. The bishop himself was in attendance, along with his Metropolitan, and several other Lordships; but the majority of those who filled the room were ordinary folk from the Cathedral parish who are appalled at the thought of the impending demolition. Both sides have engaged expert legal representation, but the Friends have flown in two heavy-weight witnesses: a judge of the Roman Rota, and no less a liturgist than Dom Alcuin Reid, OSB. Initial indications are that the bishop has a very weak case indeed. Let us pray that good sense - the sensus fidelium - will prevail.