Madam, – It was with dismay that I read Fr Arthur O’Reilly’s assertion (January 28th) that the Presbyterian Church, along with others, could “by no stretch of the imagination. . .be described as ‘home-grown’ ” .
I was baptised, communed and confirmed as a Roman Catholic. I am now completing my theological education, with a view to ordination in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, at the Pontifical University of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. I respect Fr O’Reilly’s assertion that evangelical or reformed churches “lack the Apostolic authority and tradition”, considered central to Roman Catholic practice.
However, both my community and Fr O’Reilly’s affirm in the creed that we “believe in the holy catholic apostolic church”. That universal church finds its origin in Palestine about 2,000 years ago. No church can proudly display a “Made in Ireland” label. The church is a place where properly there is “neither Jew nor Greek” and in contemporary Ireland our Christian traditions should remember their calling to be signposts to the Kingdom of God in their diversity. When we live up to that vocation, there will be little space for the “kingdoms” of Éire or Ulster.
– Yours, etc,