Gardaí launch investigation into comments from priest that compared gay people to zombies

The Gardaí are now officially investigating comments made by Kilkenny priest that promote that gay people are “spiritually dead, morally rotten.”

News . Written by Michael Kuhl .

adjacent photos of garda next to priest

Gardaí are now officially investigating violent and offensive comments made by a Kilkenny priest on June 8.

A spokesperson for the Gardaí told the thejournal.ie:

“Gardaí are investigating the contents of remarks made during a religious service held on 8th June 2019 in Kilkenny and relevant publications.

“The investigation commenced following a complaint from the public. No further details are available at this time. Enquiries are ongoing” the statement added.

The investigation comes after Patrick McKee, who is from Kilkenny, complained to the Gardai, calling the incident of hate against LGBT+ people ‘unacceptable.’

Lawyer and former Politician Patrick McKee, who lodged the complaint, told GCN:

“I was disgusted at the views expressed by Tom Forde. The views expressed were extremely destructive in nature and the anti-LGBTQ sentiment was of such a degree that it warrants an investigation by the Gardai.

“It is important that the authorities act on incidents like this, hate in all its forms needs to be denounced by right-thinking members of society.

“While I personally took the steps necessary to make a formal complaint to the Gardai, it is clear that my complaint reflects the feelings held by the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland, that should encourage us all in standing up to those who preach hate, in all its forms.”

The shocking comments from the priest, which have been making national headlines, called LGBT+ people, those who engage in pre-marital sex, and pro-choice supporters “spiritual zombies that are physically alive but spiritually dead, morally rotten or at least infected”.

The comments continued, “once you’re bitten you’re infected and there’s no hope. The only way to deal with the monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain for otherwise they are merciless, relentless and unstoppable.”

The Bishop of Ossory, Dermot Farrell, recently issued an apology for comments made by Brother Tom Forde. He called comments from Forde “inappropriate language and sentiments.”

He added, “As followers of Christ, the Gospel we proclaim is about the welcome and inclusion of all; as every person – no matter their faith, or race, or sexual orientation – is made by God and is loved by God.”

In response to apology made by the Bishop of Ossory, executive director of Amnesty Ireland, Colm O’Gorman said that, while the statement went “some way to address the vile and inappropriate comments made” by Brother Forde, “it would have been better if the bishop had called out the homily’s shameful homophobia.”

 

© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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