Mass boycott by 80 yr old cork woman (18)
sharmini: SOoooooooooooo, any comments?By RALPH RIEGEL (sun Indo)
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
But Mrs Sleeman is adamant that if further protests are to be mounted they will have to be organised by others.
The Catholic Church responded within 24 hours of Mrs Sleeman's boycott call being publicised. In a statement last week, the church reminded people of the vital importance of attending mass.
"The mass is a community sacramental celebration of the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus," a church spokesperson explained.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
But Mrs Sleeman is adamant that if further protests are to be mounted they will have to be organised by others.
The Catholic Church responded within 24 hours of Mrs Sleeman's boycott call being publicised. In a statement last week, the church reminded people of the vital importance of attending mass.
"The mass is a community sacramental celebration of the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus," a church spokesperson explained.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."
fair play to that woman !! we could do with more people like her in this country
My mother (64, hitting 65) told me a while back that as recent as the 60s, if a woman had a kid (within marriage), they had to have a special blessing before they could be let go back to mass again, WTF ...
That said, we are talking about an institution whose rules are governed by 70 year old virgins ...
That said, we are talking about an institution whose rules are governed by 70 year old virgins ...
mcneillm: My mother (64, hitting 65) told me a while back that as recent as the 60s, if a woman had a kid (within marriage), they had to have a special blessing before they could be let go back to mass again, WTF ...
That said, we are talking about an institution whose rules are governed by 70 year old virgins ...
That said, we are talking about an institution whose rules are governed by 70 year old virgins ...
That was called 'Churching'. My mam was 'churched' after each of us, and also after her miscarriages before she would be allowed back inside the church building.
She also recalls a female friend of hers, who was pregnant before she married, who was asked by the PP to leave the premises. Ironically, the child (a boy) joined the priests when he grew up!
I saw this old lady on the news last week and she was lovely...
Agree or disagree with her she came across as a very articulate and decent Woman..
Agree or disagree with her she came across as a very articulate and decent Woman..
mcneillm: Well, I meant virgins as far as adult women are concerned...
I wouldn't be too sure about that either!!!
MarsMan: I wouldn't be too sure about that either!!!
According to a priest we had teaching us in secondary school, the whole thing of priests not going near women was only brought in so the women, and the kids they might have with the priests, couldn't get their hands on church land and property...
Most other religions manage with letting their clerics marry, in a good few religions an unmarried cleric is frowned upon. It is seen as unnatural and against the will of God not to be married and have children.
I know Jennifer personally. She's a mighty woman. Fair play to her.
Although I must admit, I've been boycotting mass for 10 years.
Although I must admit, I've been boycotting mass for 10 years.
scriobhneoir: I know Jennifer personally. She's a mighty woman. Fair play to her.
Although I must admit, I've been boycotting mass for 10 years.
Although I must admit, I've been boycotting mass for 10 years.
Me too although i have to admit its not of because how they treat wimmen.
Howya Scribs
Dunno what she hopes to achieve anyway nobody is gonna give her one bit of notice either way.
Hi DG.
GalwayGuy35: Dunno what she hopes to achieve anyway nobody is gonna give her one bit of notice either way.
Oh...what about this then?
from "Irish Central" U S
Jennifer Sleeman, from Clonakilty, Cork has been overwhelmed by the response to her call for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church’s treatment of women.
The 80-year-old said that she’s been amazed by the public’s response. She said “It has all been a bit overwhelming…The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Her cause has been mentioned on several blogs where it is receiving support and she has generated media interested in the U.K, Italy, Germany, France and the United States. “I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago,” she added.
Mrs Sleeman feels that the church's treatment of women is unfair and that they essentially treat women like second class citizens. She believes that the Church does not appreciate the level of anger on this issue.
“I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there…I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
sharmini: SOoooooooooooo, any comments?By RALPH RIEGEL (sun Indo)
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
But Mrs Sleeman is adamant that if further protests are to be mounted they will have to be organised by others.
The Catholic Church responded within 24 hours of Mrs Sleeman's boycott call being publicised. In a statement last week, the church reminded people of the vital importance of attending mass.
"The mass is a community sacramental celebration of the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus," a church spokesperson explained.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
But Mrs Sleeman is adamant that if further protests are to be mounted they will have to be organised by others.
The Catholic Church responded within 24 hours of Mrs Sleeman's boycott call being publicised. In a statement last week, the church reminded people of the vital importance of attending mass.
"The mass is a community sacramental celebration of the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus," a church spokesperson explained.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."
Bring back the good old days when women had no rights, they werent even allowed to vote,
Its only in recent years they have been given equal rights and look at the state of the country
Screech: Bring back the good old days when women had no rights, they werent even allowed to vote,
Its only in recent years they have been given equal rights and look at the state of the country
Its only in recent years they have been given equal rights and look at the state of the country
Ah the good aul days..when I could have given you a gud clip round the ear for saying that!
sharmini: Oh...what about this then?
from "Irish Central" U S
Jennifer Sleeman, from Clonakilty, Cork has been overwhelmed by the response to her call for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church’s treatment of women.
The 80-year-old said that she’s been amazed by the public’s response. She said “It has all been a bit overwhelming…The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Her cause has been mentioned on several blogs where it is receiving support and she has generated media interested in the U.K, Italy, Germany, France and the United States. “I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago,” she added.
Mrs Sleeman feels that the church's treatment of women is unfair and that they essentially treat women like second class citizens. She believes that the Church does not appreciate the level of anger on this issue.
“I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there…I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
from "Irish Central" U S
Jennifer Sleeman, from Clonakilty, Cork has been overwhelmed by the response to her call for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church’s treatment of women.
The 80-year-old said that she’s been amazed by the public’s response. She said “It has all been a bit overwhelming…The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Her cause has been mentioned on several blogs where it is receiving support and she has generated media interested in the U.K, Italy, Germany, France and the United States. “I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago,” she added.
Mrs Sleeman feels that the church's treatment of women is unfair and that they essentially treat women like second class citizens. She believes that the Church does not appreciate the level of anger on this issue.
“I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there…I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
Most people in Ireland only go a few times a year anyway if at all. So she thinks that staying away for one day will make them decide to treat wemon better? I think not. Anyway ordinary people, have more on their minds these days like trying to make a living than bothering about something that will never change anyway.
sharmini: SOoooooooooooo, any comments?By RALPH RIEGEL (sun Indo)
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."
Heard this lovely lady on the radio........ she was both charming & articulate - and coming from an era where women had fewer equal rights than a lot of us take for granted today...she is to be admired.... Whether boycotting mass directly will achieve anything, is debatable, but it's sending a message..... so whether you're religious or not ... doesn't really matter... change here would be good....
ps enjoy your posts sharmini
Whats a church?
A church is a building....NOT.
There is a whole pile of Religion in this bloody country, but little FAITH...
There is a big difference.
A church is a building....NOT.
There is a whole pile of Religion in this bloody country, but little FAITH...
There is a big difference.
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By RALPH RIEGEL (sun Indo)
Sunday August 15 2010
A CORK octogenarian who called for a one-day boycott of mass to protest the Catholic Church's treatment of women has been "totally overwhelmed" by support for her campaign.
Jennifer Sleeman, 80, from Clonakilty, initially wasn't certain what response her protest call would attract when she went public in the media last Tuesday.
However, Mrs Sleeman -- who converted to Catholicism from Presbyterianism -- has been deluged with messages of support from Ireland and overseas as well as positive reaction via radio and newspaper articles.
"It has all been a bit overwhelming," she told the Sunday Independent.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing all week. There has been the odd person saying: 'You should be going to mass more, not less.' But the majority of people have been very kind and very supportive of the idea."
Internet blogs have also attracted thousands of messages of support for her stance.
Her boycott call even generated headlines in the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France.
"I had the BBC on the phone just a little while ago," she added.
Now, Mrs Sleeman's one-day mass protest on September 26 isn't likely to be restricted to her home town in west Cork as she originally presumed.
Mrs Sleeman urged Irish people to support the one-day protest because of what she said was the church's unfair treatment of women. She said the church had effectively been treating women as second-class citizens for decades -- and that church officials urgently needed to appreciate the true scale of anger on this issue.
Analysis Page 22
"I am not like the Catholic Church in that this isn't an order -- it is merely a suggestion to stay away from mass for one day to show the depth of anger that is out there," she said. "I think this might give people who perhaps feel voiceless in the church a voice. There are lots of women who feel very strongly about being able to do more within the church but are simply not being allowed to do so."
This, she added, would also help spur reforms.
"I do feel that I have right on my side -- I do not feel that it is just me. I feel it is so many people that would think the same way as I do. I have felt that a lot of women are angry," she explained.
"They have been doing their own way of protesting. It all seems so spread around and it would be great if we could concentrate all this so it just came to me. I'm beginning to wonder is there a Holy Spirit and did it put the idea into my head," she asked?
The pensioner's eldest son, Simon, is a monk in the Benedictines' Glenstal Abbey in Limerick -- and, she claimed, fully supports her call for church reform. "He thinks it (her stance) is brilliant," she said.
But Mrs Sleeman is adamant that if further protests are to be mounted they will have to be organised by others.
The Catholic Church responded within 24 hours of Mrs Sleeman's boycott call being publicised. In a statement last week, the church reminded people of the vital importance of attending mass.
"The mass is a community sacramental celebration of the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus," a church spokesperson explained.
"We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, 'Do this is memory of me'. The celebration of the mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is essential to the practice of the Catholic faith."