The newly-elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland,
the Rev. Ivan Patterson has said he will have ''no problem'' in
participating in interdenominational services with Catholics.
The issue frequently emerges as a lightening rod within traditional
Presbyterianism with past moderators frequently refusing to attend
ceremonies where Catholic clergy are present.
The outgoing Moderator Dr Normal Hamilton refused an invitation to
meet with Pope Benedict XVI during the Pontiff's visit to Britain last
year.
However, Rev. Patterson pointed to the fact that he has served as
Minister of Newcastle Presbyterian Church in Co. Down for the last 20
years where there are very good ecumenical relation.
''There are very good relations between members of the main Churches,'' he said.
Rev. Patterson has described his ministry as ''conservatively biblical with a strong evangelical outlook''.
Rev. Patterson, 62, was nominated by 12 out of the 19 Presbyteries
that make up the Presbyterian community in Ireland last week and will
succeed Dr Norman Hamilton in June.
The majority of Presbyterians, some
349,000, live in the North making it the largest Protestant denomination
there, while there are some 23,000 Presbyterians in the Republic.