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Bishop welcomes apology over Capuchin priest who compared gay people to 'infected zombies'

Brother Tom Forde made the statements in a homily delivered during Mass in Kilkenny on Saturday.

THE BISHOP OF Ossory has said that he welcomes the apology of the Capuchin order in relation to comments made by one of their members which likened gay people to “infected zombies”.

Commenting after the apology, the Bishop of Ossory Dermot Farrell said that was “saddened to learn of the inappropriate language and sentiments used during a homily at the Capuchin Friary last weekend”.

Brother Tom Forde made the statements in a homily delivered during Mass in Kilkenny on Saturday.

Multiple reports state how Forde began to talk about self-destructive and irrational behaviour which he said was “the abuse of drugs and alcohol, adultery, fornication and homosexuality, as well as in the acceptance of abortion and contraception and in the move to legalise euthanasia”.

“We sense that many of those around us are physically alive but spiritually dead, morally rotten or at least infected,” he is reported as saying at the Capuchin friary in Kilkenny on Saturday.

He then likened this then to zombies and how “once you’re bitten you’re infected and there’s no hope”.

“The only way to deal with monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain,” Forde said.

He then is reported as saying that being obedient to Christ was the only cure for those “infected”.

Apology 

A number of people reportedly walked out of the Mass when the comments were made. The homily was also published as a blog post but was taken down earlier this week.

The Irish Capuchin Friars issued an apology yesterday after outcry over the comments. 

“In response to the homily by Fr Tom Forde, OFM,Cap on Pentecost Sunday Vigil Mass in Kilkenny, we wish to state the following:

“This homily, which had been published as a blog is no longer posted online. On reflection Fr Tom removed the blog as it was not his intention to cause hurt to anyone.

“The Capuchin Order wishes to state that all are welcome in our churches, irrespective of sexual orientation.

“Unfortunate comments were made about homosexuality last Saturday, which gay people would have found hurtful, and we deeply regret this.

“When asked about gay people, Pope Francis has said, ‘Who am I to judge? And speaking to a gay man at an audience in the Vatican he said, ‘God made you like this and he loves you’.

“We support Pope Francis in his comments on gay people and we will continue to be guided by him and by our own Mission Statement, which states that, ‘we affirm that our fraternities will be places of prayer, hospitality and outreach to ALL’

Bishop’s response

“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,” Bishop Farrell said following the apology. 

“I am saddened too that a Liturgy was used to convey any sentiment so at variance with our understanding of God. Words can hurt and care needs to be taken by all, in all situations, so as not to alienate, hurt or cause offence.

Farrell welcomed the apology from the Capuchin Order “expressing their deep regret and their strong reaffirmation of their welcome of all people”.

“I know the affection in which they are held by the people of Kilkenny.

I express our appreciation for the Capuchins’ service of the most vulnerable [in Kilkenny and beyond], and I thank them for outlining clearly their views on the good news of the inclusion of all.

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    Mute Austin O'sullivan
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    Jun 13th 2019, 5:53 PM

    No word of any sanctions against the offending priest? Hard to believe this radicalised view of Christianity still exists in Ireland. There should be no place in the Catholic church for this type of priest

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jun 13th 2019, 5:58 PM

    @Austin O’sullivan: the type of priest that subscribes to catholic doctrine?

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    Mute Sean
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:04 PM

    @Winston Smith: shooting zombies in the head in Catholic doctrine? Jaysus, I might give it another look.

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:13 PM

    @Sean: catholics worship a zombie

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    Mute Ken Farrelly
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:26 PM

    @Sean: Well seeing as JC got up out of the grave and roamed about for a while, I think that makes him the OG Zombie and the basis of every video game which has corrupted every young person.

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    Mute John O'Keeffe
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:37 PM

    @Winston Smith: perhaps. However, a bit of tact might have spared the scene he created. Many of those people who walked out might have done so because children or relatives might be gay. A bit of compassion could have framed that sermon differently.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 14th 2019, 8:48 AM

    @Winston Smith: stabbing and shooting them in the brain …a fine example of Christian charity more suited for Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder Generals time…..this guy sounds unhinged

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Jun 13th 2019, 5:56 PM

    when I hear people lashing out at gays &using words like sickness &disease to describe homosexuality ,or in his case “infection “ its usually a strong sign of self loathing

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    Mute John O'Keeffe
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:06 PM

    @Dean Anderson: exactly. A new book, which I’m currently reading, covers this topic extensively. The internalalised homomophobia can be shocking. The book is called In the closet of the Vatican: power, homosexuality and hypocrisy by Frederic Martel. An excellent read

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    Mute Joey Casey
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    Jun 13th 2019, 8:31 PM

    @John O’Keeffe: haha John the title alone made me laugh and now I want to read it!

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    Mute John O'Keeffe
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    Jun 13th 2019, 8:52 PM

    @Joey Casey: I have to say there are some funny parts to it. The deeper in the closet the more fervant the homophobia. Of there’s nothing new in that. However the duplicity is dumbfounding. The more I have read, the more pity I feel for these men.

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Jun 13th 2019, 9:02 PM

    @John O’Keeffe: thanks for the tip John I’ll look out for that book

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    Mute nelliekel
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    Jun 13th 2019, 10:50 PM

    @Dean Anderson: have you seen his picture something tells me he is not as straight as a dye

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:12 PM

    Hardly surprising and the apology mean ms nothing. It was a hate crime and he should be charged.

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    Mute Mike Conway
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    Jun 13th 2019, 7:23 PM

    @G Manning: Nonsense.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 13th 2019, 7:39 PM

    @Mike Conway: well that’s constructive. Care to explain why?

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    Mute Sega Yolo
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    Jun 13th 2019, 7:49 PM

    @G Manning: because he didn’t actually say that gays were zombies. The journal headline came up with that slant. He threw them in the general pot of Yiz-are-all-zombies with the rest of us damned sinners. If there was such a crime as deluded idiocy he could be charged with that. But hate crime is more specific.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 13th 2019, 8:08 PM

    @Sega Yolo: having described a number of groups as zombies which are a kind of monster he then said “the only way to deal with monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain”. Just cos a hate crime targets more than one group doesn’t make it not a hate crime.

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    Mute Ian Downes
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    Jun 14th 2019, 11:23 AM

    @Mike Conway: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT INCITEMENT TO HATRED ON ACCOUNT OF RACE, RELIGION, NATIONALITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. [29th November, 1989]
    Not nonsense.

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    Mute Tadhg Lane Snr
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:29 PM

    Is this not incitement to hatred which I believe to be illegal in this state.One for the Gardai?

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    Mute Alan Conroy
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    Jun 13th 2019, 5:54 PM

    infected zombies? unlike Jesus who was an uninfected zombie?

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    Mute finbarr quirke
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    Jun 13th 2019, 5:58 PM

    @Alan Conroy: ha ha ya I was just gona say. Does that mean straight people are just zombies

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    Mute damian
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    Jun 13th 2019, 7:04 PM

    An organisation that is making itself more and more irrelevant day by day…

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    Mute nelliekel
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    Jun 13th 2019, 10:52 PM

    @damian: it’s one Man’s warped view.. Its Muslims and certain shiek religion who preach death for gays while other religion don’t approve they don’t preach death to them

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    Mute Stephen Deegan
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:08 PM

    These men are so detached from the real world that I just find this pitiful.

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    Mute nelliekel
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    Jun 13th 2019, 10:54 PM

    @Stephen Deegan: it’s one man not men can’t paint everyone with same brush that’s like saying because one man abused his wife all men are abusers

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 14th 2019, 6:16 PM

    @nelliekel: its okay to say that about the catholic church but no other group apparently.

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    Mute Garvan Gallagher
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    Jun 13th 2019, 6:15 PM

    This is a skit from Savage Eye surely?

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jun 13th 2019, 9:14 PM

    Again a Man is being censored for speaking his mind, more political correctness. This Priest should stand his ground, defy them who ever they are, Bishop or no Bishop.

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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Jun 13th 2019, 8:37 PM

    Pretty sure we’d all rather be a zombie than diddlers just saying

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 14th 2019, 12:18 AM

    Can we have a story about Ibrahim Halawas father & his opinions on the topic of homosexuality?

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jun 14th 2019, 8:59 AM

    @Seamus Mac: Everyone else is doing it so why can’t we.. Surprise surprise.

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 14th 2019, 9:40 AM

    @Rob Cahill: any opinion on his comments Rob or is it just Catholics that you loathe?

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    Mute Liam Mc Meel
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    Jun 14th 2019, 1:44 AM

    No need for him to apologize he is just speaking his mind

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 13th 2019, 10:44 PM

    “the abuse of drugs and alcohol, adultery, fornication and homosexuality… etc.” About half the country so.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 14th 2019, 8:45 AM

    @Earth Traveller: sounds like he’s bitter he missed out on a bit of that….

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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    Jun 13th 2019, 8:12 PM

    Is there such a thing as a zombie?

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    Mute Nan
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    Jun 13th 2019, 7:39 PM

    I understand the apology for the gay community but what about every one else he offended , still I guess he has a right to free speech

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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Jun 13th 2019, 8:34 PM

    Since he’s comparing gays to the walking dead can we just take a moment to think about how that’s a bad comparison, how many seasons of the walking dead have there been and the zombies still ain’t dead so terrible metaphor if you want the what you see as the “problem” to be overcome . If your going to compare gays to something not stupid

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 14th 2019, 8:37 AM

    Brother Tom Forde is the zombie, his Church enslaved generations of Irish people in their evil grip.
    That grip is broken now Tom, do us a favour and feck off.

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    Mute Marianne
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    Jun 13th 2019, 11:20 PM

    MR. FORD IS SPIRITUALLY DEAD AND MORALLY ROTTEN

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    Mute Gary Heslin
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    Jun 14th 2019, 9:53 AM

    Is this not classed as incitement to hatred..if it was said about any other group of people I’m sure charges would be pending..

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    Mute Test Religion
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    Jun 14th 2019, 8:12 PM

    Society is worse than the priest. It recruits kids for a faith that passes around a Bible that incites violent hate for gay lovemaking. Jesus is overrated for he repeatedly affirmed it as Gods word that all should be familiar with.

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