Bishop wants to end church repose custom

THE BISHOP of Galway, Dr Martin Drennan, has come under fire over his move to end the custom of allowing families have their loved ones laid out in Liscannor church in the night prior to a funeral Mass.

At Masses in the north Clare coastal village of Liscannor over the weekend, a letter from the bishop was read out informing parishioners of the diocese’s intention to end the practice.

Diocese communications officer Fr Seán McHugh yesterday explained the rationale behind the policy. “A church is not under any circumstances to serve as a funeral home. It is an inappropriate use of the church,” he said.

Fr McHugh said that allowing the remains to repose in a church creates talk in a place of quiet, reserve and prayer, changes a church from being a place of worship to God to a place of assembly and changes the focus from the altar and the tabernacle to an open coffin in front of the sacred space. Clare Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley yesterday said that the decision should be reversed and has written to Dr Drennan urging him to reserve the move.