Sir, – I have nothing but sympathy for Ray Carey (August 30th), Rachael Stanley (September 3rd) and the doubtless many others who have been advised by priests like myself that they may not have secular music, eulogies or offertory processions, including non-liturgical items, at funerals.
We try to implement what we have been given to believe are liturgical norms which should apply everywhere and in every situation. We need guidance, direction and instruction in this. We need leadership from the bishops of Ireland. I’ll bring this to the AGM of the Association of Catholic Priests at the beginning of next month. I hope that sooner rather than later we will have a definitive set of norms which will apply in all the dioceses of Ireland so that no one will ever again feel aggrieved at what they, rightly, see as unfair treatment.
I would add that such norms should not be difficult to put together. Any priest working in pastoral situations every day of the week could draw them up in his sleep! – Yours, etc,
Fr PAT O’HAGAN,
Moville, Co Donegal.