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A CATHOLIC PRIEST in Ballina, Co Mayo dedicated both weekend homilies to calling out the members of his congregation who had voted Yes in the referendum on same-sex marriage on 22 May.
Fr Tom Doherty, the curate of the parish who was ordained in November 2013, told the congregation that people who voted Yes had given ‘two fingers’ to the Catholic Church.
He used the analogy of ‘barbarians at the gate’ to describe the result of the vote, and spoke about the ‘immorality’ of the referendum.
The constituency of Mayo voted narrowly in favour of the referendum – 52% Yes versus 48% No.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, parishioner Louise Heneghan (who was present at both masses on 23 and 24 May) said that “people are still not happy about this, there’s a lot of anger with the locals still”.
“Nobody saw it coming. It was the condemnatory tone he used,” Heneghan said.
He accused those who voted Yes as putting two fingers up to the church, and told us to ‘recite the creed, if you think it has anything to offer you’.
There was no real coherence to it though. He mentioned ‘barbarians at the gate’, and the immorality of Yes voters, but he gave no reason as to why he felt that way.
Heneghan said that the priest asked churchgoers who had voted Yes to stand up during his Gospel homilies.
However this has been disputed by other people in the area.
Some parishoners are believed to have walked out of the church in response to the comments by the priest.
Fr Doherty has been curate of Ballina parish for the last 18 months. Efforts to contact him by TheJournal.ie were not successful.
In an interview with the Western People, the priest defended his homilies as “not meant to condemn”.
“It was meant rather to invite us all to reflect on how we as a church will find our feet in a rapidly changing society,” he said.
I drew upon some historical parallels to highlight the importance and the need for mature reflection moving forward.
Regarding his suggestion that parishioners recite the creed if they felt it had anything to offer them, Fr Doherty said “it was simply an invitation to people to pray the creed in a meaningful way at a time when our church was awakening to the challenges which lie ahead of her”.
Despite the fallout from the sermons, Heneghan does not think there will be any lasting repercussions for Doherty from the incident.
People are disgruntled alright, and they’ll voice their opinions, but I don’t think Fr Doherty will face trouble, no.
“This is something that will blow over,” she said.
There’s needs to be more articles relating to the impact of restrictions. This is but the tip of the iceberg.
@Kieran Hayes:
Eating disorders have been there long before restrictions and will be there long after.
@Digdeepradioucc: true but the incidence is markedly increased. Along with abuse and neglect. But aside from these the very nature of lockdowns and social isolation reduces life expectancy… https://youtu.be/ptIecdCZ3dg
@Digdeepradioucc: I wonder could some be suffering from the after effects of the virus. Many have complained of loss of smell and taste. That it actually puts them off eating. These after effects could last for weeks/months.
@Eileen Roche: Ah here….
@Eileen Roche: I hope you have the excuse of being drunk…
@Eileen Roche: Eileen, speaking as someone who is living with an eating disorder, I would suggest that you read up, even just a little, on the causation of EDs. Your suggestion is far removed from why and how they actually develop in connection with someone mental well-being.
@Digdeepradioucc: The point is that it appears (and this article could give some more data) that hospitalisations and greatly increased since the pandemic. And you could guess why, but more reporting and more research is needed because there are a lot of negative health impacts caused by lockdowns.
@Eileen Roche:
Isolation,lack of support, reduced medical support and treatment, lack of human contact, loss of employment, social restrictions, covid anxiety.
All of the above, and probably more, will lead to increases in mental health issues, eating disorders, alcohol and drug use and abuse, suicides and more. Also, will likely lead to people who already had these issues and were doing OK regressing and relapsing.
Nothing to do with smell and taste being temporarily lost.
The government should have been preaching preventative measures that help mitigate Covid 19 effects. A healthy diet, Vitamin D, regular excercise etc.
Battering people over the head with statistics of infection and death without giving much needed advice for people to help themselves is a disgrace.
@Mike Ryan: Thank god someone is seeing sense. The nation’s health should be our primary focus. The ‘stay at home’ message is dangerous is many other ways and our government are offering no advice is this regard.
@Mike Ryan: This is the main issue I have with the current approach, it’s full on negative and against basic health needs. Too many people not seeing the bigger picture.
@Mike Ryan: is there evidence for Vitamin D and exercise? Not being smart I’m genuinely wondering. Thanks.
@Maalouf: Firstly, a healthy diet and regular exercise is recommended for everyone. And there is proof that this will generally make for healthier people and stronger people, both physically stronger and a stronger immune system. Which will help fight illness and disease.
The Vit D thing I’m not a hundred per cent on. Early on it was reported in the USA that most Covid infections were in people who were vitamin D deficient. Could be something could be coincidence. For example in Ireland virtually everyone is low on Vitamin D. So most covid patients will be as well.
I personally started taking Vitamin D supplements as there are general benefits to it.
@Jim Lingk: interesting thank you
@Maalouf: vitamin D boost your immune system, as does Vit C and Zinc. Getting your Vit D outside in the daylight is best, it’s a real mood booster
This is a silent epidemic that’s doing so much damage to our population
There’s probably alot of people who would have preferred to take their chances with covid, but hey, government knows best.
@Joe ryan: the hospitals are nearly full at the moment and we are in lockdown. Imagine if everyone was let take there chances and not enough doctors or beds to treat them. They would just die at home slowly sufficating. I don’t agree with all the restrictions at the same time. People’s mental health is really suffering.
Well done for putting an advertisement for Burger King in the middle of the article.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh:
My Google searches for the last 10 or so days were related to art,music,sport,and architecture!
@Kenneth Hayden: Your phone is listening to you!
@Kenneth Hayden: ….. and Burger King. You’ve been outed. Get help for your eating disorder. You are in denial.
Ireland won’t be satisfied until everyone is dead of everything other than Covid… kind of entertaining to watch the madness.
have your say