“I am ashamed, frankly, of my church’s failure to be a champion of gay rights and of women’s rights, ‘ Mary McAleese said to The Irish Catholic newspaper

In the same interview, the former president said her son Justin had given her “an even greater insight” into the prejudices confronting gay people. 

“The church wouldn’t necessarily have to be a champion of gay marriage. I’m quite happy for the church to stay away from civil marriage and let the State provide for that – that is not the issue,” she said.

“I see my church as a major conduit for homophobia, which is toxic – a form of hatred that has nothing to do with Christ and is un-Christian.”

She said she would “like to see the church take responsibility for the extent to which its words and its language conduces to homophobia. ”

She also said she would support the ordination of women priests.

She said though she “is obliged to accept the infallible teaching of the church”, she did not accept the exclusion of women from the priesthood.

However, despite admitting she has considered leaving the Catholic Church in favour of another religion, she said: “I had never found anything to attract me because the Catholic Church is woven into me and I relate to it, and for all its messiness it calls me home.”