A priest of the Dominican order has charged a restaurant in Killarney with "bad taste" because of its use of a Latin metonym for the Holy Eucharist as its name.
Father Placid Nolan OP, a member of the Dominican Order in Tralee, is publicly calling on the cafe and bread shop, Panis Angelicus, in New Street, Killarney, to remove the name and has written to a local newspaper to that effect.
"They are using a very specifically chosen term and using it in a most common way. I consider it very poor taste to use a name that is specifically chosen to designate the Holy Eucharist to be used as a title for a common eatery," Father Nolan said.
He finds this use of the Latin phrase all the more offensive because it was coined by the 13th century scholastic philosopher St Thomas Aquinas, also of the Dominican Order, as part of a hymn to the Blessed Sacrament.
"The hymn which bears the title Panis Angelicus is chosen to be sung on the most solemn occasions," he said.
The use of the phrase which is so closely associated with the theology of the Eucharist on "a common eatery" is deeply offensive to many Catholics, he said.
Father Nolan decided to speak out "because you have to alert people there are certain things that are not acceptable. We cherish our religion. We don't want it dragged down."
He feels strongly that the climate of political correctness "where you don't object to anything" needs to be challenged.
"We shouldn't go along and accept everything."
Political correctness often covers up even deeper offence than it purports to protect people from, he said, and has gone too far in this State.
He feels that in Canada, for instance, where he spent many years, the use of such a dearly held term to name a restaurant would provoke a storm of objection by Catholics.
Advertising has become vulgar in its use of religious symbols, Father Nolan cited, for instance, the use of "Franciscan Friars" to advertise lottery tickets.
"Advertisers will use anything to sell. There is nothing sacred. It's irreverent." There is a Latin saying which he follows: "Treat holy things holily."
According to Mr Larry McCarthy, assistant chief executive of the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland, complaints about the misuse of religious symbols are not that frequent. But this may be because advertisers usually steer clear of any religious material which might cause offence. A notable exception was the Ryanair advertisement featuring the Pope and the fourth secret of Fatima to advertise air fares. This caused outrage.
Nudity provokes the most complaints.
The authority has received no complaint about the lotto advertisement, Mr McCarthy said.
Initially, the Panis Angelicus restaurant when contacted said it had received no complaints and had chosen the title because it specialises in choice breads. It is also the title of a CD. However, when contacted again, a spokeswoman said they had no comment to make.