User:The C of E/twbaem

"That would be an ecumenical matter" is a quote from the British sitcom Father Ted. It was used as a method of avoiding a difficult question in the programme but has since been used to describe similar situations in real life.

Father Ted origins
The phrase was originally used in Father Ted by Father Jack Hackett, an alcoholic foul mouthed Irish Catholic priest who was taught to use it by the programme's title character as an alternative to swearing during a visit to Craggy Island by some bishops. The phrase was used by Father Jack to avoid difficult conversations.

Later usage
The phrase later became used as a common quote in the Irish media to describe a way of avoiding difficult issues of ethics. It was also used by members of the Catholic Church in the British Isles as a commonly used reference for the media when talking about ecumenism with other Christian denominations.