The Vatican has been urged to intervene in a dispute over the sale of a Co Donegal church which has led to the resignation of Ballintra’s parish priest.Fr Seamus Dagens quit his position following a row over his plans to sell the parish’s secondary church – St Colmcille’s, in the Laghey Bar area of south Donegal – where Sunday Mass has not been celebrated for the past five years.
Last month he asked parishioners attending his church, St Brigid’s, to mark their opposition to his plans to close and sell St Colmcille’s by writing ‘No’ on their weekly collection envelopes.
When most did not do so, he decided to proceed on the grounds that St Colmcille’s was a drain on parish resources. The growing shortage of priests also meant it was becoming more difficult to celebrate Mass at the church, although weekday Masses were sometimes held there.
But his plans were opposed by the Laghey Bar Association, a group which called for Mass to be celebrated at St Colmcille’s on a monthly or fortnightly basis. Members of the group claimed the vote on the future of the church was undemocratic.
Fr Dagens tendered his resignation as parish priest to the Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce, last Friday, saying demands were being placed on him which he could not meet and that he had been placed under great stress.
It also emerged yesterday that the association had contacted the Vatican about the issue and has asked Dr Boyce to intervene.
Last night a spokesman for Dr Boyce said: “The bishop is not commenting at present but may do so at a later date.”
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(Source: IN)