Sir, - I am saddened to read that the Church of Ireland Dean of Clonmacnoise and Rector of Trim, the Very Rev Andrew Furlong, will "face severance" as a priest on March 4th, if by then he has not changed his "unconventional views on Christianity", for which meanwhile "his authority to act as a priest" has been withdrawn.
The person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Christian faith, is a subject increasingly receiving the reverent and constructive study of clergy and laity, professors, preachers, pastors and teachers, resulting in views held that are not totally dissimilar to those expressed by Dean Furlong. These continue as faithful professors, preachers and pastors able to proclaim the continued relevance of Jesus of Nazareth in salvific ways.
Like Dean Furlong they would have the "deepest respect for others and their beliefs" , which are often matters of faith alone and not historical fact so far as this can be convincingly determined.
Nativity stores and views on incarnation (how the divine might take on human flesh) have given rise to the wonder of the Christmas festivities. We cannot believe that the dean would do away with all that - as reported in The Irish Times - because "he does not believe in Christmas".
Perhaps the dean was somewhat rash in publishing his views on the cathedral website - maybe without conference with his bishop. But I venture many of the dean's colleagues in all denominations will see him as one seeking to open discussion on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth which may be of supreme importance in the matter of cosmic ecumenism (Muslim, Jew, etc.) as distinct from ecumenism mainly in the West. - Yours, etc.,
Rev Dr William O'Neill, Howth, Co Dublin.