THE country's bishops are expected to be briefed today on the growing
likelihood Pope Benedict will attend the International Eucharistic
Congress in Dublin in June 2012.
Cardinal Sean Brady and
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin will also discuss preparations for
an international probe ordered by Pope Benedict into child protection
measures.
The bishops are meeting today in Maynooth.
The
four archbishops led by Cardinal Brady will also report to their
colleagues on recent talks with Vatican officials and the four church
leaders from England, the US and Canada, who will conduct the probe.
A
major clash between Stormont's First Minister and the hierarchy was
signalled yesterday by Bishop Donal McKeown, chairman of the Northern
Ireland Commission for Catholic Education.
On the eve of their
three day autumn meeting, Bishop McKeown called on Peter Robinson and
his Democratic Unionist Party to recognise the fundamental right of
parents to opt for faith-based education for their children.
He
was responding to a speech by Mr Robinson last Friday objecting to the
state providing and funding church schools, which he denounced as "a
benign form of apartheid".
Citing the need to cut costs, he
claimed it was "absurd" to allow different education sectors, and he
urged the creation of a single body to oversee all schools.
But
last night Bishop McKeown insisted that the right of parents to send
their children to "faith schools" was guaranteed by the European
Convention for Human Rights.
"It is also the hallmark of a stable and pluralist society.''
Bishop
McKeown pointed out that parents who choose faith-based schools for
their children paid taxes toward the provision of that education, and
the Catholic Church has also contributed substantial funding and
resources for the provision of Catholic schools over generations, which
had ultimately saved the taxpayer money.
He said Catholic schools
were committed to welcoming pupils of all backgrounds and to building a
cohesive society in the service of the common good.
SIC: II/IE