Bishop Murphy's criticism of à la carte Catholics could turn people away,reports Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Bishop Bill Murphy of Kerry was very clear who he was addressing last Tuesday evening at the chrism Mass - where oils to be used in baptism, confirmation, ordination to the priesthood, and the anointing of the sick are blessed - in St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, Co Kerry. "I am really speaking to those who are not here and who don't come to church very often," he said.
People who do not share the faith should not receive the sacraments, he said, and that "to do so would be a lie, a charade, an abuse". He added: "It doesn't make any sense, for example, if a couple who are not believers ask for a church wedding."
He went on to address that growing army of à la carte Irish Catholics: "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."
But what if they still believe?
Dealing with first communion and confirmation, he said: "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."
But what about the children? Could it not still make sense for them?
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."
Does this indicate a misunderstanding of what is really going on?
He also criticised "undesirable practices" at weddings and funerals, in particular the use of videos and cameras, secular songs and secular readings, as well as inappropriate items being brought to the altar in the offertory procession. Eulogies too. "A funeral Mass that canonises the deceased is not in the Catholic tradition," he said.
It was inevitable, perhaps, that his address would provoke diverse reactions.
Theologian Gina Menzies responds: "Bishop Murphy says that faith is necessary for the reception of sacraments in the Catholic church. But who is able to judge another's faith?
"The Jesus of the Gospels made everyone welcome: he broke bread many times with sinners, and the outcasts of society. Is that not a better model of practice for today's church?
"Too much emphasis on the separation of the sacred and the profane may lead to consigning God solely to holy places. The sacred is found, as Patrick Kavanagh said, 'in the bits and pieces of everyday'."
Religion commentator Dr Gail Grossman Freyne identifies the pedigree of Bishop Murphy's thinking. It was "more of the same old methodology". It "sounded very legalistic" and somewhat removed from her understanding of the nature of Jesus, she says. But it was not uncommon in the church, where people were being continually told: it is not a democracy, and where, so frequently, there was no room for discussion.
Meanwhile, people were "finding different ways to make meaningful their understanding of faith," she says. This was being shown in poll after poll. "Yet it doesn't impinge [on church authorities\]," she adds. "They may be right, the people may be wrong, but there is no conversation," she added. "It is not helpful. They keep making rules, but the people have no part in their formulation."
She wonders whether the "undesirable practices" at weddings and funerals, to which Bishop Murphy referred, were people's way of "trying to be connected to the church".
A writer on religion, Betty Maher, believes a lot of these problems could be avoided if the civil and religious aspects of a wedding were kept separate. She believes it would be best if the signing of the register ceremony at a church wedding is removed to a civil context. "And those who choose to have both [civil and church ceremonies\] might spontaneously decide on more appropriate music, with no cameras or videos present," she says.
Regarding funerals, she says that for the majority of people there is still no alternative to the church ceremony - but a lot of people might prefer if there were one.
Where baptism, first communion, and confirmation are concerned Maher believes none should be conferred until the recipient is old enough and mature enough to know what is going on. There needs to be discussion about this issue, she adds. Meanwhile, there is a greater need to educate parents about what is taking place, to make it meaningful to them and their children. Regarding ordination, she says there is less reason to celebrate this sacrament due to sex abuse scandals.
In general, however, Maher believes Bishop Murphy has helped to stir a debate which may bring more hope and realism to how the sacraments are administered and received.
A parish priest, Father Brendan Hoban of Kilglass, Enniscrone, Co Sligo, says the church should treat non-practising Catholics carefully. "We have to be careful not to make it more difficult for people to stay," he says. Young people in particular go through different phases. They may stop practising for a while, but frequently resume when children come along.
But he adds there is a danger "religion could become all things to all people, as though it was just a social experience".
However, he believes there is a social side to a sacrament such as first communion. He believes clothes, etc, add to this sense of occasion, and also compound a sense of social support for it, and all such sacraments.
"I don't think it takes [from them\] in any way," Father Hoban says. "They are important community events."
Where secular music versus hymns at weddings and funerals is concerned, he warns against the formal liturgist taking the high ground over the pastoral liturgist. He accepts what Bishop Murphy said about inappropriate items being carried to the altar in offertory processions, particularly at funerals.
But he believes "extreme" examples could be avoided by discussion at pastoral level, (between priest and mourners). He adds that eulogies at the end of funeral Masses are becoming more popular, but "not so much in rural areas".