Sir, – Now that we are again in the season of confirmation in the Catholic Church, I see the trend, which started some years ago, of not having a bishop conducting the ceremony, is continuing.
At a time when interest in religion is declining and young people are turning away from the Catholic Church, it beggars belief that the church is allowing this practice to continue.
Traditionally the only time a child would even see a bishop was on confirmation day. The presence of a bishop at the ceremony always made it special for the children involved. This is now being taken away in an increasing number of cases where the bishop is replaced by a parish priest. This does nothing to help children to develop an interest in the Catholic Church. We hear the usual reason trotted out that there are not enough bishops or that they are too busy with other duties. Bishops seem to have time to attend all sorts of events around the country.
What could be more important that a child’s confirmation ceremony? Parents of children who are due to be confirmed should insist on a bishop being present and not accept the excuses which are given. – Yours, etc,
TERRY DOYLE,
River Forest,
Leixlip,
Co Kildare.