A parish priest in Waterford is calling for a standardisation of guidelines surrounding eulogies at funerals.

According to the Order of Christian Funerals, which acts as a guidebook on Catholic funeral rites, eulogies are not officially permitted.

In recent years however, eulogies have become a common feature in Irish funerals.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Father Michael Toomey, a parish priest in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore, said there is a need for more clarity on whether or not eulogies are permitted.

"We have 26 dioceses in Ireland - every diocese has their own policies and guidelines," Fr Toomey said.

"In Waterford and Lismore, we’re similar to the dioceses in Dublin, where we allow there to be a word of thanks.

"This can be done in the funeral home, at the end of mass or by the graveside."

Clarity

Some parishes, however, do not allow eulogies under any circumstances, according to Fr Toomey.

"That's why I'm calling for clarity on this," he said.

"The reason the Catholic Church doesn’t permit eulogies is because the focus of the mass isn’t supposed to be about the life of the deceased.

"It’s supposed to be about the saving mercy of God and that brings the deceased into eternal life."

Fr Toomey said he is not alone in seeking a standardised approach to eulogies.

"I think what's happening around the dioceses is priests would come and say we need some kind of guidance on this," he said.

A man stands next to a coffin in a cemetery, Alamy

Fr Toomey said sometimes eulogies are "quite good", however he has heard of "horror stories" about eulogies.

"They can be 40/50 minutes long or they can be inappropriate in a church," he said.

The church is "logistically" the best place for a eulogy to take place, according to Fr Toomey.

"You’re in a building, there’s a microphone, there’s a stand – it kind of suits it better," he said.

You can listen back below:

Feature image: A coffin in a church, Alamy