Cathedral ‘should help conservative worshippers avoid women priest-led services’
by Alex Williams, Premier:
Wakefield Cathedral was “asking too much” of a congregation member who cannot accept women clergy, a new report has found.
The independent review followed a complaint from one worshipper after the West Yorkshire landmark stopped publishing in advance the names of those who would be presiding over Holy Communion.
Dennis Belk claimed he was being “marginalised” because he was forced to arrive at services without prior knowledge whether there would be a male or female celebrant.
Mr Belk, who described himself as a “traditional Catholic” felt the situation put him in a “compromising position” and argued he had to leave services on three occasions because a woman priest was presiding.
Conducted by Sir William Fittall, the review found cathedral bosses were unreasonable in their expectations of Mr Belk.
He said: “To expect someone whose theological conviction does not enable him to receive the sacramental ministry of women routinely to turn up to a celebration of Holy Communion when he cannot discover in advance whether he will be able to receive Holy Communion seems to me to be asking too much.”
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