A row has broken out in the Church of Ireland over a request for a group of Tibetan monks to perform at an arts festival in Down Cathedral.
A senior cleric, Canon Jonathan Barry, has written to the Church of Ireland Gazette, which describes the Cathedral's decision not to grant the request as "extraordinary."
Canon Barry wrote: "I am all for guarding the integrity of Down Cathedral, but that integrity is deplorably undermined by the decision not to permit Buddhist monks to give a ' performance' expressing their culture and belief in the Cathedral."
He said that his Christian faith was not going to be "compromised by allowing gentle Buddhist monks to express their culture and beliefs in one of our most sacred places".
"And who knows what effect the wonderful and extraordinary spirit of place that is Down Cathedral could yet have on the soul-pilgrimage of a young monk from Tibet?"
Down Council had applied to use the Cathedral for a performance of Tibetan Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo monastery on June 13 as part of an Opera Fringe Festival.
The programme was to include "chanting and reciting mantras, the ringing of bells and cymbals and the blowing of trumpets."
The chief executive of the council John McGrillen told the Belfast Telegraph today: "My understanding is that this would not be an act of worship but it depends on what people mean by that.
"If the Cathedral decided it was inappropriate, that's a matter for them. We have good relations with the Cathedral and we want to maintain these.
"However, we were disappointed, because it meant we had to find an alternative venue.
"The performance will now take place in the Down Arts Centre at 7.30pm.
The Dean of Down, the Very Rev John Dinnen, said: "Down Cathedral welcomes visitors of all outlooks and nationalities.
"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.
"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 that the building is a place for the performing arts."