{"id":1242382,"date":"2022-11-02T22:36:10","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T22:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/02\/mass-walkout-over-priests-controversial-sermon\/"},"modified":"2022-11-02T22:36:10","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T22:36:10","slug":"mass-walkout-over-priests-controversial-sermon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/02\/mass-walkout-over-priests-controversial-sermon\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass walkout over priest’s controversial sermon"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A Bishop has apologised after a controversial sermon caused a mass walkout in Kerry (Image: corkbeo)
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The Bishop of Kerry has issued an apology after a controversial sermon by a\u00a0priest\u00a0saw over 30\u00a0parishioners\u00a0walk out of mass.<\/p>\n

Churchgoers attending a mass at St Mary\u2019s Church in Listowel over the weekend listened to Father Sean Sheehy condemn\u00a0abortion, same-sex relationships and\u00a0trans people\u00a0as he called them a \u201cmortal sin\u201d.<\/p>\n

He also criticised Ireland\u2019s health system, HSE, for handing out free condoms to teenagers, claiming that it promoted promiscuity,\u00a0CorkBeo reports.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Videos circulated on social media showed Father Sheehy making the controversial statements as he told the congregation: \u201cYou rarely hear about sin but it\u2019s rampant. It\u2019s rampant.<\/p>\n

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This video from St Mary\u2019s Church in Listowel is absolutely shocking\u2026. pic.twitter.com\/VYHu3Ktc3d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shane McAuliffe \ud83d\udc37\u2708\ufe0f (@ShaneMcAuliffe1) November 1, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThat is sinful. That is a mortal sin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ray Browne, the Bishop of Kerry, has now issued an apology over the offensive remarks.<\/p>\n

In a statement posted to the Diocese of Kerry website he said that he was aware of \u201cthe deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend\u201d and claimed that \u201cthe views expressed do not represent the Christian position\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI apologise to all who were offended.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bishop also added: \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fr Sheehy returned to County Kerry from Baton Rouge in Louisiana in the US in 2007 and it\u2019s not the first time that he has caused controversy.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n