The Church of Ireland
Press Release

Friday 21st December 2001

Archbishop Walton Empey, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, today expressed the hope that the Very Rev Andrew Furlong, Dean of Clonmacnoise will reflect on the nature of his beliefs and the conflict inherent in holding these beliefs while ministering within the Church of Ireland, a Christ-centred Church.

The Archbishop emphasised that he was making this statement to clarify matters because the Bishop of Meath and Kildare's pastoral obligation to the parish and to the Dean preclude him from commenting on the matter at present.

The Dean was given leave of absence earlier this month by the Most Revd Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath & Kildare. This leave was to provide a time for quiet reflection following the publication of articles by the Dean in which he asserted beliefs that rejected the entire core of the Christian faith. These included the incarnation and the place of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of humankind.

The period of leave granted for reflection ends on 4 March 2002 after which the situation will be reviewed by the Bishop of Meath & Kildare.