Bishop Joseph Duffy has given his support to two Co Louth priests who have taken drastic measures to ensure their congregation behaves during Confirmation services. ''I would of course agree with them, when you have a large number of people cramped together, sometimes it can get out of hand and it requires care and consideration to ensure good order is maintained,'' said the bishop of Clogher who attracted huge publicity last year when he banned non-liturgical music at funerals.
Fr David Bradley and Fr Tony Gonoude stationed two stewards at the door of the Church of the Holy Family in Drogheda to enforce behavioural rules during the ceremony.
The priest wrote to parents of children receiving the sacrament setting out a list of activities that were forbidden during the ceremony including chewing gum, standing in the porches or at the back, the consumption of any drink or food, talking and making noise, leaving and returning to the church, or leaving seats to take photographs.
Bishop Duffy said it was ''common practice to lay down ground rules before the celebrations''.
''We have very simple rules in our parish, at the start we ask everyone to switch off their mobiles and not to be taking multiple photographs, as compensation the bishop makes himself available afterwards.''
Referring to people's reaction to the ban on non-liturgical music at funerals, Bishop Duffy said, in general, people ''were happy to conform and observes rules of reverence and respect''.
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