However, as he made his argument for same-sex unions, the Anglican
leader took what appeared to be a direct slap at the Catholic hierarchy,
asking "how people who are so certain about homosexuality being evil
could have been so indifferent and even devious when it came to facing
up to the issue of child abuse."

Speaking in Dublin's Anglican cathedral on Sunday, the Catholic
Archbishop shot back. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin told the congregation
at St. Patrick's cathedral:

It would not be honest of me, speaking here today in a Church of
Ireland cathedral, not to refer to a certain hurt that I felt in these
days by words attributed in the press to a Church of Ireland figure
which somehow gave the impression that those who hold different
theological positions to the author on the subject of homosexuality,
were perhaps less sincere, even fundamentalist, or were associated with having been "devious" on other serious issues. Archbishop Martin, who made his remarks at an ecumenical evensong service, suggested that Christians of different denominations should show "respect for each
other's searching" on controversial issues. Such public disputes among
Christians emphasize the differences between the denominations, he said.

He called upon all Christians to "address our individual sinful
responsibility today for the perpetuation of the disunity which exists
among the followers of Christ."

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IRISH ARCHBISHOP HITS BACK IN HOMOSEXUALITY ROW Irish News

THE Coadjutor Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has criticised a leading Church of Ireland figure for appearing to suggest the Catholic
teaching on homosexuality is "insincere" and for linking it to the child
abuse issue.

Dr Martin, who is due to succeed Cardinal Desmond Connell as Archbishop of Dublin, made the remarks yesterday during the Evensong Service at the Church of Ireland's St Patrick's Cathedral.

Last week, Archdeacon Gordon Linney, a senior figure in the Church of
Ireland, said in a speech the State should give legal recognition to gay
civil unions. However, in an apparent side-swipe at the Catholic Church,
he also said: "I have to ask how people who are so certain about
homosexuality being evil could have been so indifferent and even devious when it comes to facing up to the issue of child abuse?"

Archbishop Martin countered yesterday that questioning the sincerity of
another church's search for the truth is not the best way to bring about
Christian unity.

Without referring to Archdeacon Linney by name, he said: "When new
differences arise we should always attempt, however, to address them in charity and respect for the sincerity of each other's searching.

"It would not be honest of me speaking here today in a Church of Ireland cathedral not to refer to a certain hurt that I felt in these days by words attributed in the press to a Church of Ireland figure - which
somehow gave the impression that those who hold different theological
positions to the author on the subject of homosexuality, were perhaps
less sincere, even fundamentalist, or were associated with having been
'devious' on other serious issues."

He continued: "Roman Catholic tradition is not distant from the
protestant tradition of 'searching'. The Roman Catholic tradition also
'struggles and suffers' as it wrestles with the joys and hopes, the
sorrows and the anguish of the people of each generation.

"The answers arrived at may in various cases not always have been fully authentic. The same can be said of complex conclusions drawn in good faith by all our traditions.

"What we should avoid is to claim that these conclusions were any less
the fruit of heart-rending searching."

END