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User:rorynoonanDate:16/05/2013Time:08:26:17Edition:16/05/2013Thuthurecho160513Page:1Color:

EE - V1

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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EDITION NO. 34,913

Serving Cork for 120 years

Priest who calls on parishioners to lobby TDs over abortion defends his action

THE CHANGING FACE OF CORK

Walk-out at Mass over abortion comment S m r Sp i s See

OUR NEW SERIES LIFTS THE LID ON MODERN LIFE IN...

Fr Anthony O’Brien: A parishioner at a Holy Communion ceremony he conducted walked out of Mass after he urged parishioners to lobby TDs against legislation on abortion.

A MEMBER of the congregation walked out of Mass after a priest urged parishioners at a First Holy Communion ceremony to lobby TDs against legislating for abortion. Fr Anthony O’Brien made the comments at the end of two First Communion ceremonies in Carrigtwohill. One member of the congregation, Sandra Troy, walked out of the church in disgust at the priest’s comments. Ms Troy said she was “shocked and distressed” by the priest’s decision to talk about the abortion issue at the First Communion ceremony. “I strongly feel it was inappropriate for him to air such controversial views at a gathering of innocents. These young First Communicants have no knowledge of such matters and should not have been subject to adult debate material on such a joyous occasion for them,” she said. “Whilst appreciating the Church’s stance on these matters, I strongly feel

By ANN MURPHY

there is a time and place for this debate. And, in my opinion, the local parish church in Carrigtwohill on May 11 was not such a place for that debate.” Fr O’Brien said he was disappointed and surprised that Ms Troy did not make her concerns known to him personally after the ceremony last Saturday, and said nobody had contacted him about the remarks he made. But he said: “The abortion issue is very serious and I feel we need to try to prevent the legalisation of abortion in this country. “I said something to the effect that we need to contact politicians to highlight the seriousness of it. We need to try to make some effort to protect unborn life.” A spokesman for the Diocese of Cloyne said Bishop William Crean had no comment to make on the matter. ● See page 19 for more.

International search for Pfizer buyer

16.05.13 Recommended retail price €1.50

AN international search is now underway to find a buyer for the Pfizer pharmaceutical plant at Little Island, following the news it is to close next year with the loss of 136 jobs. Also today Pfizer chiefs confirmed that it remains committed to Cork, despite the shut-down plan. By late next year the company intends to have consolidated all its Cork production in Ringaskiddy.

However, the US firm remains hopeful of finding a buyer for the plant. A spokesperson for the company said: “We remain totally committed to our Ringaskiddy operation, where 450 people are still employed.” Dr Paul Duffy, vice president, Pfizer, stressed that Cork remained a “key strategic location” for the company. ● See pages four and 18.

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