The Bishop of Kerry has issued an apology after a controversial sermon by a priest saw over 30 parishioners walk out of mass.
Churchgoers attending a mass at St Mary’s Church in Listowel over the weekend listened to Father Sean Sheehy condemn abortion, same-sex relationships and trans people as he called them a “mortal sin”.
He also criticised Ireland’s health system, HSE, for handing out free condoms to teenagers, claiming that it promoted promiscuity, CorkBeo reports.
In an act of protest over the controversial sermon, parishioners then walked out of the church and footage of the sermon posted on social media has since led to even more backlash.
Videos circulated on social media showed Father Sheehy making the controversial statements as he told the congregation: “You rarely hear about sin but it’s rampant. It’s rampant.
This video from St Mary’s Church in Listowel is absolutely shocking…. pic.twitter.com/VYHu3Ktc3d
— Shane McAuliffe ?✈️ (@ShaneMcAuliffe1) November 1, 2022
“We see it for example in the legislation. We see it in the promotion of abortion we see it and in the example of this lunatic approach of transgenderism and in the promotion of sex between two men and two women.”
He added: “That is sinful. That is a mortal sin.”
Ray Browne, the Bishop of Kerry, has now issued an apology over the offensive remarks.
In a statement posted to the Diocese of Kerry website he said that he was aware of “the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend” and claimed that “the views expressed do not represent the Christian position”.
He said: “I apologise to all who were offended.”
The Bishop also added: “The homily at a regular weekend parish Mass is not appropriate for such issues to be spoken of in such terms. I regret that this has occurred while a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land is taking place.
“The Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a Gospel of love and ever proclaims the dignity of every human person. It calls on us all to ever have total respect for one another.”
Fr Sheehy returned to County Kerry from Baton Rouge in Louisiana in the US in 2007 and it’s not the first time that he has caused controversy.
He previously made headlines following an outcry after he shook hands and gave a character reference for convicted sex offender Danny Foley of Listowel, in Tralee Circuit Court in 2009.