Laity attacks lack of representatives at synod

A LAY REFORM group has criticised the Irish Church’s decision to choose a nun and not a lay ­married representative to attend October’s Synod on the Family in Rome, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

Sr Margaret Muldoon, a former superior general of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux, will join the Archbishop of Dublin as the Irish representatives at the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops’ meeting on 5-19 October.

We Are Church Ireland has described the decision not to select a lay married representative as “extraordinary”. In a statement, it said it was “outrageous” that no married Irish Catholic would be present to share their experience of family life and offer advice to the synod.

It also accused the Irish Church of operating a “secretive selection process” in which Sr Margaret was chosen as the Irish “lay” ­participant.