The Portal - Australia edition January 2014 | Page 5

Snapd
ragon

THE P RTAL

January 2014

Page 5

An ecumenical matter
na
I

hilarious episode of TV comedy sitcom Father Ted, three bishops visit Craggy Island
to upgrade the Holy Stone of Clonrickert to a Class Two relic and Father Ted is anxious
that Dougal and Jack be on their best behaviour. Fr Jack pulls it out of the bag on the day
by responding to any awkward questions from the bishops with the new catchphrase, ‘That
would be an ecumenical matter’.
So impressed are the bishops by
Jack’s attitude that they enlist him
in their campaign to fight against
the anti-clerical bias of the media.
Needless to say, that proves to be a big
mistake.

grains of truth

The series, like all comedies, exaggerates grains
of truth in reality for comic effect. It is true that in a
religious discussion you can’t go wrong by saying: ‘that
would be an ecumenical matter.’ It makes it sound like
we know what we’re talking about even when we don’t!

amical engagement
The majority of Christians talk freely and comfortably
about ecumenism these days. We may have different
ideas about what form it should take and what its end
might lo