Sheridan's spokesman has said that there is no Communion ban and that decisions on taking Communion rest with individuals and their consciences. There was further controversy in 2005 when Sheridan's executive assistant, Peter Howard, wrote a column in the diocesan newspaper stating that participating in Protestant services is contrary to church teaching. Sheridan then issued a public apology stating that Howard's view "does not represent my thinking on the subject". Other prominent clerics in the diocese agreed with Sheridan, saying that Catholics should be encouraged to participate in Protestant services.