Sir, I write this letter in the name of all the Kildare and Leighlin priests in the 13 parishes and two diocesan colleges in the Carlow Deanery area. We are very conscious of, and deeply regret, the hurt caused on all sides by the present controversy about the reordering of Carlow Cathedral. We do not wish to worsen the situation, nor do we wish this letter to be seen as confrontational in any way, but we believe that the time has now come when truth, justice and charity demand that we make our views on these issues known.
We are very concerned that a false impression may be taken from several letters to the local and national press, and from a statement issued on August 12th 1996, on behalf of two groups who call themselves the "Friends of Carlow Cathedral" and "Save Our Cathedral".
It is claimed in that statement that "quite a few priests" have been asking the groups to act on their behalf and not to let the proposed alterations be made in the cathedral. These groups are not speaking or acting on behalf of any priest in this deanery. We know also that very many people in all our parishes wish the bishop to go ahead with the reordering as proposed at present. Therefore these groups do not represent the views of all "the faithful" or all "the people", as implied in the statement.
We are deeply upset by the tone of personal vilification of our bishop contained in that statement and in some letters to the press. We know the accusations to be untrue, but we are very concerned by the false image of the bishop portrayed, and the consequent damage to the image of the Hierarchy and to the Church as a whole.
We believe the reordering of the cathedral is in the hands of expert and capable people who understand very well the work they are undertaking. We are aware that consultation has been taking place for a long time and that very extensive compromises to the original plans, as proposed by an independent forum have been accepted by Bishop Ryan. We know that the proposed alterations are in keeping with Church teaching and in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.
We hope that the damage to the Church may be short lived, and that all in this community may return to their long tradition of living and working together in peace and harmony. Yours, etc., Parochial House, Tullow, Co Carlow.