Scottish Catholic Observer

Irish Defence Minister Alan Shatter has been accused of being prejudiced against the Catholic Church over his refusal to allow the army to provide a guard of honour for a procession during the recent International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin.

Willie O’Dea, a Fianna Fáil politician and former Irish defence minister, accused Mr Shatter (above) of ‘blind prejudice’ in blocking the army from taking part in the congress— which was attended by thousands of Catholics from around the world between from June 10 to 17—and said that the request from the congress organisers should have been granted by Mr Shatter.

Members of the Defence Forces in Ireland have regularly taken part in religious events. A spokesperson for the Department of Defence confirmed that Eucharistic Congress organisers had submitted a request seeking the participation of the Defence Forces in a street procession during the event.

“It demonstrates a strange petty-mindedness by Mr Shatter, which I must say does not surprise me,” Mr O’Dea said. “His response to the request seems like one of blind prejudice and his reaction is totally inappropriate.

“He should now give a proper explanation why this decision was taken. The army has participated in Church ceremonies since the foundation of the State, irrespective of what Church was involved.

“There has been this tradition, and now we are told that such participation by the Defence Forces on major occasions like the Eucharistic Congress is suddenly inappropriate if Mr Shatter says so.”

An army spokesperson was quoted in this week’s edition of the Irish Catholic newspaper as saying: “The department was not in a position to approve such involvement as military participation was not considered appropriate.”

The last major Catholic event in which the Defence Forces took part was in 2001 when the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux came to Ireland.

Members of the Defence Forces provided full military honours on a number of ceremonial occasions. The Irish Catholic said: “The unprecedented move has raised fears that religious events around the country, where members of the Defence Forces have traditionally played an important role, will become ‘no-go’ events for military personnel.

“It will also increase suspicion among people of faith that the Coalition is increasingly hostile towards Catholics.”