Dispute over open coffins in church escalates
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A ROW between a TD and a Bishop over people lying in repose in open coffins inside a church grew more bitter last night.
Fianna Fail Clare TD Timmy Dooley warned the Bishop of Galway, Martin Drennan, that his decision to stop the practice would turn people against the clergy.
Mr Dooley said the Bishop's order was "outrageous" and called on him to withdraw a letter he wrote on the matter, which was read to parishioners in Liscannor last weekend.
He said he could not understand how some churches in the county were hosting concerts but remains could not lie in repose in Liscannor's church.
The communications officer of Galway Diocese, Fr Sean McHugh, claimed last night that the letter was intended only for the local parish priest's attention and wasn't meant to be read from the altar.
But the diocese refused to move on its decision last night, insisting that a church is not a funeral home -- which the parish currently lacks.
Letter
Mr Dooley wrote to Bishop Drennan about his decision and told him that "in light of all that has been revealed in recent times, church authorities should be inviting its people in and embracing their participation and the doors should be flung open, not slammed shut".
And he rejected claims that the practice of allowing open coffins to repose in Liscannor drew attention away from the tabernacle and the altar.
"What's the difference between leaving the lid on or off the coffin? What happens is a most dignified practice," he said.
Fr McHugh suggested last night that the parish should build its own funeral home adjacent to the church.
"Many parishes have built rooms on to the church for meetings and to act as a funeral home," he said.
- Aidan O'Connor
