Priests Criticise NLI for Allowing Access to Parish Registers
In June we reported that microfilms of the Roman Catholic parish registers for Cashel and Emly, and Kerry were available to view at the National Library of Ireland, a move that was positively received by all genealogists with an interest in Ireland.
Family historians researching these areas were particularly grateful to be able to view the microfilms since they had only previously been able to access the information via local heritage centres, for an expensive fee.
Earlier this week, an article in the Irish Times reported that in May two Roman Catholic priests, the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr Dermot Clifford and the Bishop of Kerry, wrote to the National Library of Ireland criticising the National Library’s decision to provide public access to microfilm copies of historic parish registers from their dioceses.
Dr Dermot Clifford stated in his letter that he was ‘totally taken aback’ at the library’s ‘unilateral’ decision to grant access to ‘allcomers’ to the registers. However according to the Times Aongus Ó hAonghusa, director of the National Library of Ireland wrote back to both bishops reaffirming the decision and stating that it was made with the benefit of legal advice.
Now a report in today’s Irish Independent suggests that the two priests are concerned that the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints) would use the records to posthumously baptise dead Catholics in the Mormon faith. The article suggests that the Vatican has warned about Mormons accessing diocesan and parish registers.
Archbishop Clifford told the Irish Catholic: ‘The Archdiocese has not surrendered its claim to copyright of the records held in trust at the National Library. In due course, a full statement on the matter will be made.’
Meanwhile, the Irish News Online reported that John Connolly of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in Ireland claimed the practice only takes place for ancestors of members and is never done without the permission of relatives.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by adding a comment below.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Fear seems to be the problem with the clergy concerned. Fear leads to secrecy. The Catholic church has had too much secrecy. It is time for openness.
Are we to hide all headstone inscriptions, newspaper obituaries, public mention of the names of the dead? The Census records, Civil records etc. could all be used to baptise the dead. Let the dead decide which religion they opt for if they have a choice…….
August 25th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Am I not correct in thinking that most of the NLI’s parish register collection was filmed by the Church of LDS in the first place, so there must already be copies of the registers for these dioceses in its collection?
September 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Unless the clergy that are concerned that the Mormons may baptise for the dead, believe that such a thing has eternal power, it seems a moot point to me. I am not Mormon nor Catholic but have been both. I’m an older Irish lass who’d be appreciative of getting the information that ran through St. Mary’s in San Francisco about my Lenihan (Linehan, etc.) great-grandparents, especially since most of the civil records were destroyed in the earthquake/fire of 1906. What possible harm could these records hold? I’m thoroughly baffled by this turn of events with the church’s stance. The only reason(s) I can think of I’d really rather not think would be the problem.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:51 am
As a genealogist, I would love to see this information. However, as a descendant, I believe I have no right to permit the LDS to posthumously baptise my ancestors in the Mormon faith. I would not give permission for any of my descendants to allow this, whatever the faith involved, and I consider it an infringement of very basic rights to tamper with their affiliations after death. Perhaps it makes as much sense as declaring that a Tory voter is now a Communist, or a Man U supporter now follows Chelsea! It might be anoying to the Catholic church to have these so-called baptisms performed, but it is a meaningless procedure anyway. There is no way those dead people would sign up for a church so newly invented (the first president, Joseph Smith, served from 1830 -1844). If they hadn’t already converted to the Church of Ireland due to the pressures of the time, what makes anyone think they would adopt a religion originatin in the US? They might be scratching their heads at their descendants’ choices anyway… The church should just let the information be made available, and declare that any so-called posthumous baptisms are a pointless procedure. After all, baptisms started where???