Actor Rory Cowan has blasted a retired Kerry priest who condemned same sex-couples, abortion and transgenderism – calling him “a doddery old fool”.
Retired Kerry priest Father Sean Sheehy, who was deputising for Listowel Parish Priest Canon Declan O’Connor, shocked mass goers last weekend after he condemned Government legislation around what he said was the promotion of abortion and described the “lunatic approach of transgenderism”.
Rory told us that Father Sheehy was a “doddery old fool” whose comments should be ignored.
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He told us: “I would just wish everyone would ignore them. They’re making their point of view relevant, and it is not relevant. We’ve laws, we’ve got equality and we’ve got laws now to protect us.
“If he wants to rant and rave about that old sh*te… I mean especially coming from an organisation with all the abuse that they carried out over the years.
“As far as I’m concerned, don’t be making him relevant.”
Fair City star Rory became prominent for his role as Rory Brown on Mrs Brown’s Boys, which saw show creator Brendan O’Carroll dress up as a woman to portray matriarch Agnes Brown.
When asked if Mr O’Carroll would go to hell for dressing as a woman on the hit BBC show, Rory said: “I just think that’s terrible. If anyone is going to hell, we’ll be meeting him down there because his attitude is the most unchristian thing.
“There is nothing Christian about his attitude.
“I get that people are against homosexuality and transgender people and their rights for transgender people, that’s their opinion and I can’t change their opinion but to make comments like that, all I can say is it is not Christian at all.
“Just ignore him… just ignore him, the doddery old fool that he is because he is way out of touch. His attitude does not belong in 2022. It really doesn’t. It would’ve been a common place in 1922 but definitely not 2022.”
Father Sheehy caused uproar when he stood on the altar last weekend at St Mary’s Church in Listowel and said during his homily that gay couples were sinful, and criticised free contraception being provided by the HSE as it was “promoting promiscuity”.
A video of Fr Sheehy’s comments, where he also criticised abortion and the trans community, has been shared widely online.
“What is so sad today is you rarely hear about sin but it’s rampant. It’s rampant,” Fr Sheehy said during his homily delivered over the weekend.
“We see it, for example, in the legislation of our governments.
“We see it in the promotion of abortion.
“We see it in the example of this lunatic approach of transgenderism.
“We see it, for example, in the promotion of sex between two men and two women.
“That is sinful, that is mortal sin.
“And people don’t seem to realise it, but it’s a fact, it’s a reality.”
Up to 30 people walked out on the mass, which Father Sheehy told them “God help you… and God bless you who are here, who are worshipping God”.
But Rory added: “People are getting very annoyed and very upset about it. That is only making him relevant. We have the laws and we have equality now, we are equal citizens and the laws are there to back us. That’s all I ever wanted.
“He doesn’t impact on my life,” he added.
In response to Father Sheehy’s comments, Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne has since apologised to those who were offended by Fr Sheehy’s “offending” homily and said his views do not represent “the Christian position”.
He said that to have “total respect for one another” was a “fundamental Christian teaching”, and for these issues to be spoken of “in such terms” a weekend parish Mass was not appropriate.
“I am aware of the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend.
“I apologise to all who were offended.
“The views expressed do not represent the Christian position.
“I regret that this has occurred while a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land is taking place,” he added, in reference to parish priest Father Declan O’Connor, who is away.
Father Sheehy’s comments has received widespread criticism – including Tanaiste Leo Varadkar who Father Sheehy said that Irish politicians who support same sex marriage and are openly gay are “absolutely” going to hell if they “don’t repent on sin and seek forgiveness”.
A spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said the Fine Gael leader “profoundly disagrees” with the views of Father Seán Sheehy.
“The Tánaiste profoundly disagrees with Fr Sheehy’s views, however he respects his right to express his religious beliefs freely.
“The Tánaiste does not believe that gay people will go to hell for being who they are, nor does he believe that any man or woman can make such a judgment. As Pope Francis said, “who are we to judge”.
“And As the Bible says, judge not lest you be judged. We are all God’s children.”
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys condemned the comments by Father Sheehy.
“Those are absolutely unacceptable comments, and I'm disappointed to hear that a priest would make comments like that,” Ms Humphreys said.
She said the priest should “come out and apologise” for the remarks but declined to say whether they could be classified as hate speech.
“It’s a complicated area. So I wouldn't like to say whether it is or it isn't. But all I can say is that it's a terrible thing to say. It shouldn’t have been said and I hope that he does retract it," the minister added.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney described the comments as "disgraceful" and "a reflection on the person" who made them rather than anything else. "They should be withdrawn and there should be an apology," he said.
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