Public disquiet over the sale of church property and the dispersal of the often very large amounts of money accruing from these sales is a growing trend. The property, whether buildings or land, is paid for in the main by ordinary church members, yet it is disposed of without reference to them and frequently for purposes not intended by them.
The issue has been brought into focus by a row in the small village of Carragh, Co Kildare. There, it is claimed, a field bought for the parish by local people 54 years ago is to be sold "without prior consultation", and it is not clear how the money from its sale will be spent.
Whereas Carragh parish has a population of 2,000, Carragh village, near Naas, has one pub, one shop, a primary school, a church, and an estimated 200 people. Those opposing the sale of the parish field say they want it preserved as a green space.
They have established at the county planning office in Naas that as the village is classified as a "settlement" there is no limit on the number of houses that can be built there.
Notice of an intention to ask the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests to appoint the Kildare and Leighlin Diocesan Trust (based at Bishop's House, Dublin Road, Carlow) as sole trustee of the field was displayed in Carragh church porch for two weeks last summer.
This was approved on June 22nd last and a commissioners' order to that effect was posted in the church porch for three weeks to July 19th.
On June 30th this order was joined by another notice in the church porch, this time from the parish priest, Father Jackie O'Connell.
It stated that "a decision has been taken to sell the parish land in Carragh village following discussions between the parish pastoral council and the parish finance committee. The Bishop (Dr Laurence Ryan), having consulted his diocesan advisers, has consented to the sale. Professional advice indicates that now is the best time to sell in order to maximise the value to the parish."
The notice continued that "all proceeds from the sale of this land will remain under the control of Carragh parish for parish purposes. It will be the duty of the parish committees to draw up a plan of what the money will be used for and how it will be administered and then seek permission from the Bishop and from the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests."
On July 15th, 30 parishioners wrote to the commissioners to complain. Acknowledging that as the commissioners' order was about to take effect there was little they could do other than go to the High Court, "which would be completely outside the financial scope of us as a group", they asked what procedures were in place "to ensure that we have a say as to whether or not the property should be sold".
They were informed that there was little they could do at that stage.
The ad-hoc group, calling itself Concerned Parishioners of Carragh, called a public meeting for July 19th. It was attended by 291 people, including Father O'Connell and the two parish committees.
It lasted over three hours, with about 60 contributions from the floor. Requests for a referendum on the issue were refused by Father O'Connell. He also asked that there be no show of hands.
A second meeting, called by Father O'Connell, took place on Monday night. It was attended by the two parish committees, a solicitor and an auctioneer "to allay your [parishioners'] fears", and about 150 parishioners. One objector asked why, with so many experts present, there was "nobody to look at the moral side of it". He then walked out.
Father O`Connell told the meeting Bishop Ryan had approved the buying of another field with the proceeds from the sale of "the parish field", but if the cost was anything more than £10,000 they would have to go back to Dr Ryan for approval.
It also emerged that Father O'Connell had proposed a public meeting before it was decided to sell the field but was advised by a member of the finance committee that this would cause "too much hassle".
Father O'Connell told The Irish Times yesterday that since his appointment to Carragh four years ago he had had five offers for the field. But, apart from having to sell the land at public auction as it was owned by a charitable trust, he was not impressed with any of them.
Besides, it was his understanding that if services were provided the field would be "hugely valuable".
Bishop Ryan was unavailable for comment as he was away yesterday.