Catholics unite with Protestants for historic celebration
By Edel O'Connell
Tuesday June 12 2012
THE relationship between Irish Catholics and Protestants took a historic step forward yesterday as ministers from both churches jointly celebrated a service at a major Catholic event.
The Church of Ireland's Archbishop Michael Jackson delivered an 'ecumenical service' to thousands of Catholic pilgrims at the International Eucharistic Congress. It is only the second time ever, and the first in a generation, that an ecumenical service was celebrated at such a congress. Unlike a Mass, an ecumenical service is celebrated by multiple denominations to promote Christian unity.
Dr Jackson was joined on the altar by the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Reverend Kenneth Lindsay, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dallas, Dr Brian Farrell.
The Church of Ireland cleric said relations between the Anglican and Irish Catholic churches were now "quite organic" and no longer staged.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/catholics-unite-with-protestants-for-historic-celebration-3136649.html
