Commonwealth Games chaplains pleased at athletes open about faith

Published: 2006-03-24

MELBOURNE, Australia (CNS) -- Chaplains at the 2006 Commonwealth Games said they were surprised and pleased at the number of athletes openly practicing their faith. One of three Catholic chaplains at the games, Father Anthony Doran said he met some "very faith-filled people" during the games. Father Doran, one of about 12 chaplains officially sanctioned to minister at the athletes' village, said he appreciated the faith of all the believers -- Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Bahais and Christians. "In many ways the Commonwealth is a microcosm of the wider world," he said. The British Commonwealth currently has 53 members; 71 countries participated in the March 15-26 games in Melbourne. Father Doran, who said Catholic and Anglican chaplains wore clerical dress, said people approached him with a range of requests. Some people wanted to pray with him before a big event; others asked about the times of religious services, while others wanted to chat.

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