Press Releases03 Mar 04

'Open Door' at Down Cathedral

?OPEN DOOR? AT DOWN CATHEDRAL

The Dean and Chapter of Down Cathedral has declined a request for a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks to give a performance in the Cathedral as part of Opera Fringe Northern Ireland, an annual festival of opera held in Downpatrick every June.

Dean John Dinnen said: ?Down Cathedral welcomes visitors of all outlooks and nationalities and indeed for generations has been at the heart of tourist development in the Downpatrick area. It is therefore both surprising and regrettable that an officer of Down District Council should suggest that visitors are not welcome in the Cathedral.

?The Cathedral is a place of Christian worship. In this place we celebrate both the personal faith of Patrick and his vision to point others to Jesus Christ. Soon public celebrations in the Cathedral will observe the events of the first Good Friday and Easter. All are welcome at these celebrations.

?On the specific point at issue a visit by Tibetan monks is perfectly acceptable. However it is not acceptable for them to perform Buddhist religious rituals or related cultural rites in the Cathedral. The Dean and Chapter?s concern is that the integrity of the Cathedral is guarded regardless of whether or not others may think the building is a place for performing arts.?