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Gardaí investigating comments by priest which compared gay people to 'zombies'

An investigation was launched following a complaint from a member of the public.

GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING comments made by a priest comparing gay people to zombies during a homily in Kilkenny almost two weeks ago. 

Capuchin priest Br Tom Forde drew widespread criticism after he said zombies weren’t real but people could still be “physically alive but spiritually dead, morally rotten or at least infected,” according to multiple reports. 

He reportedly went on to say: “It is visible in  the abuse of drugs and alcohol, in adultery, fornication and homosexuality, as well as in the acceptance of abortion and contraception and in the move to legalise euthanasia”.

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

Gardaí have confirmed it is investigating the remarks after a complaint was made by a member of the public. 

“Gardaí are investigating the contents of remarks made during a religious service held on 8 June, 2019 in Kilkenny and relevant publications,” a statement to TheJournal.ie said. 

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

The Irish Capuchin Friars issued an apology following the service, in which it confirmed that the homily whichwas posted online had been removed, adding “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’.”

The Bishop of Ossary, Dermot Farrell also previously issued an apology stating:

“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.

“Furthermore, when harm is done an apology is to be given,” he said. 

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123 Comments
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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 10:59 PM

    Hmmm, interested to see what way this goes, if he’s somehow prosecuted it could set a very dangerous precedent. Opens the doors for the courts to be packed with nonsensical charges.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:05 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: yeah prosecuting people, especially priests, for breaking the law is so un-Irish

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:11 PM

    @G Manning: my advice to you is to cradle yourself in the foetal position.

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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:19 PM

    @Vote4Pedro:He specifically stated ““The only way to deal with monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain” after directly comparing gay people to said monsters. That’s no different than Wahhabi Imams who call for the death of gays.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:24 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: fantasies to yourself darling

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    Mute David Duffy
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:34 PM

    @Seán Ó Briain: I agree, the blatant homophobia shouldn’t be prosecuted, but this is a call to action to stab or shoot people based on beliefs. That’s the part that runs foul of the law. Regardless of the initial part which is horrible too.
    Basically to @Vote4Pedro. You can say bad things, and it’s a very good, and essential right to have, it protects people from using the law against their opponents for words, but when you incite violence against a group of people (even the church) it becomes something more serious.

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    Mute Jenny Boyle
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:58 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: Nothing nonsensical about it Enoch Burke. We all know where you stand on homosexuality.

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    Mute Nctln 333
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    Jun 19th 2019, 3:02 AM

    @G Manning: G Manning, zero follows, zero following. Suspicious

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Jun 19th 2019, 3:46 AM

    @Vote4Pedro:
    The organisation that this man represents is responsible for the religiousy motivated homophobic agenda that has resulted in the oppression, persecution and murder of gay people in their millions over the past 1600 years and counting. And you think if he is prosecuted for incitement to hatred is a dangerous precedent and nonsensical? Sounds like you’re afraid of ending up in court yourself.

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 19th 2019, 6:01 AM

    @Jenny Boyle: ah wrong person there love.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:14 AM

    @Nctln 333: implying what exactly? Use the account to access here and nothing else. But you keep playing the man and ignore the ball, tis less complicated than trying to actually argue a point and use logic etc.

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:39 AM

    @Vote4Pedro: nonsensical ? Anyway me thinks he protests too much ,if u know what i mean….

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:00 AM

    @Seán Ó Briain: did you read the whole thing?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:44 AM

    @Seamus Mac: the bit where he said he didn’t mean to hurt anyone by calling them monsters and then saying how to rid ourselves of said monsters? Yeah.

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    Mute jnulty17@gmail.com
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:25 AM

    @Vote4Pedro: and cradle yourself into a position of mistreatment by church for years

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:35 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: only a fool would interpret it that way or somebody with an agenda.

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    Mute Tim O'Brien
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:02 PM

    Snowflake nonsense.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:09 PM

    @Tim O’Brien: so does that make all hate speech ok?

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    Mute WinstonSmith
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:12 PM

    @G Manning:
    You shouldn’t insult gay people or call them slurs. You also shouldn’t be prosecuted for doing so.
    You may trust the state to regulate speech. I choose to not trust it nor people like you who would censor fools for saying stupid things.

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    Mute Tim O'Brien
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:13 PM

    @G Manning: go to bed, there’s a good lad.

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:14 PM

    @WinstonSmith: people are always shocked when they called for censorship only for themselves to be censored down the line.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:18 PM

    @Tim O’Brien: ooh is that an invitation honey?

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:20 PM

    @WinstonSmith: insult whomever you please. Just don’t engage in hate speech. 2 different things. It’s not too complicated. Doesn’t matter whether you trust me or not hon what he did is illegal and if it turns out not to be then he’s nothing to worry about.

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    Mute WinstonSmith
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:26 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: ‘Well I didn’t mean censor me!!!! Only the other guy.’

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    Mute WinstonSmith
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:27 PM

    @G Manning: We all should be worried of people like you.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:44 PM

    @WinstonSmith: why’s that darling?

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    Mute Jenny Boyle
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:02 AM

    @Tim O’Brien: Stick to watching Love Island and your all-male holidays, good lad!

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:30 AM

    @Tim O’Brien: He openly says that the aforementioned monsters should be killed. “The only way to deal with monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain,” Forde said. 

    Does that not concern you?

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Jun 19th 2019, 4:06 AM

    @Tim O’Brien:
    So it’s snowflake nonsense to prosecute somebody for incitement to hatred where that said somebody represents an organisation that has a history of 1600 years of oppression persecution and murder of gay people in their millions.
    So tell me if in the context of this history, if you were born gay and a representative of the Catholic Church called on their millions of followers to put a gun to your head and pull the trigger would you consider your object to be ‘snowflake nonsencse” ? I look forward to hearing your response.

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    Mute Jack
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    Jun 19th 2019, 8:44 AM

    @G Manning: because you’re going along the line of a nationalist socialist party manifests if you can’t see that you have a problem.

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:03 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: did you read the whole lot of it & would you consider it a call to action or a foot in mouth situation?

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:06 AM

    @Jack: so believing hate speech laws should be enforced and more broadly that inciting violence against minority groups is wrong makes me a Nazi? Someone else needs to consult his dictionary

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:46 AM

    @Seamus Mac: I saw him say he didn’t mean to hurt anyone by calling them monsters and describing how to kill monsters. What’s your point? He literally speaks publicly for a living. He isn’t saying that by accident or off the cuff.

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    Mute jnulty17@gmail.com
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:52 AM

    @Tim O’Brien: free of speech not freedom consequence whatever it been on social media but in an institution which is half corrupted you can hardly start calling people snowflakes for not liking hate

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: did you see it as a call to action?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:45 PM

    @Seamus Mac: it could very easily be taken that way, intended or not.

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:56 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: would you see it as a call to action yourself?

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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:39 PM

    @Ian Breathnach: Straight out of the ISIS playbook.

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    Mute Marianne
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:01 PM

    Fair play to the member of the public who involved the garda..it’s a disgracefull and hurtful thing to say about anybody..how dare he..

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:04 PM

    @Marianne: ok Adolf, the person who reported him is as big an imbecile as he is.

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:04 PM

    @Marianne: Yeah let’s arrest everyone who hurt other people’s feelings

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:06 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: yeah it’s like hate speech is illegal…oh wait

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:07 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: Nah just those who engage is hate speech

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:10 PM

    @G Manning: dont be so soft in the head, if something like that upsets you God knows what you’d do if some1 called you a pr#(k to your face, straight to the copshop? How people dont see the spiralling mess this can lead to is beyond me. We’ll be like England next arresting people of tweets.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:15 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: so let’s he like Ireland so where suspended sentences are the norm & violent assault & sexual are just grand. This fool represents an organisation which has form in relation to sex shame & the raping of children. No harm he gets to be interviewed. It might deter him from speaking about matters he knows nothing of.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:17 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: so you equate callin me a pr1(€ with a priest calling all gay (and other people) monsters and then saying the only way to deal with them is to kill em??? Yeah cos that’s the same. Ones a personal insult (admittedly based on an inability to construct a coherent reasoning behind your illogical position) and the others calling on people to kill all gay people. Ones being a d/(€ and the others hate speech which is illegal.

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:19 PM

    @Mjhint: my arguement is who is best equipped to regulate speech? Have you seen the clowns that are being elected election after election?

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:22 PM

    @G Manning: who should regulate speech in this country? Honest to God this country has become such a PussyNation, offended for the sake of it.

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:25 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: How ironic, you call a person who calls out hate speech Hitler.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:26 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: there a mirror where you are? Cos if ya have a look there’s a highly indignant offended person in it

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:39 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: What a complete and utter waste of garda time, Br Tom rambles on about zombies and monsters,the man is clearly taken by science fiction but comparing anyone to zombies, really, I mean really, seen any lately. The good work done by the Capuchin order should not be overlooked by the ramblings of Br Tom, all the work done in Church st feeding the homeless and looking after those with addiction problems, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water in a rush to criticize one mans delivery. I agree with you vote4pedro.

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    Mute Jenny Boyle
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:04 AM

    @Vote4Pedro: Go to your safe space Enoch, there’s teardrops all over your Bible now, tut tut!

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:17 AM

    @Vote4Pedro: really? It has “become” such a PussyNation? 30 years ago it would have been a national scandal to use the word “fuсk” in public. 50 years ago it would have been an outrage to show breаsts on TV. 100 years ago it was deemed offensive for a woman to show her ankles and for a man to enter a religious building with a fеckin hat on. And yet you think it should be perfectly OK to call for the murder of gay people and that if you don’t accept that then you’re just an offended рussy? Wow, you really are a blinkered little boy.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 19th 2019, 1:08 AM

    @Honeybee: nobody is talking about banning the Capuchin order just as nobody should be talking about excusing a call to action against gay people by one of its number based on the good work of the order.

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 19th 2019, 6:03 AM

    @G Manning: ive plenty of mirrors, I only see a happy go lucky person staring back. God no I’m not offended at all far from it.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:17 AM

    @Vote4Pedro: the insults ur chucking out say otherwise sunshine.

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:27 AM

    @Marianne: No, it’s a vexatious complaint to try and discredit the Catholic Church and the Priest. That’s going nowhere.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 11:48 AM

    @Eugene Comaskey: effort needs to be made to discredit the church?

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:34 PM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: he did not call for the murder of gay people. You are deliberately misinterpreting what he said, if of course you even read what he said.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jun 19th 2019, 3:54 PM

    @Seamus Mac: he said that gay people were “monsters” and that the only way to deal with monsters was to “stab or shoot them in the brain.” That is the definition of calling for his followers to murder gay people.

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    Mute Patrick Leonard
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:01 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: Consider that a young vunerable teenager may be in the congregation, coming to terms with their sexuality and they hear this from someone thier community looks up to!

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:12 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu:
    Putting a gun to someone’s head and pulling the trigger is grand. Sure it’s only hurting someone’s feelings. FACE PALM. What a dope.

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    Mute John Marshall
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:08 PM

    Fr Tom has issues!

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    Mute The Risen
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:00 PM

    Good, hate speech pure and simple. The Catholic church needs to get its own house in order before passing judgement on others…..especially on adults who have sex with other adults.

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    Mute McNulty Jimmy
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:27 PM

    @The Risen: Define hate speech please

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    Mute K
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:34 PM

    @McNulty Jimmy: advocating for the murder or elimination of a minority or subgroup through the use of metaphor. Have a google of the steps to tyranny. Fascinating insight into what happened in Rwanda in particular.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:38 PM

    @The Risen: I’m sure that you’ve made many hateful comments about the church and it’s followers in the past.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:45 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: care to quote where’s he’s incited others to murder a specific group?

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    Mute Sean
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    Jun 19th 2019, 8:14 AM

    @McNulty Jimmy: Calling on people to be killed because they are gay. That’s hate speech. It’s not rocket science. Only an idiot can’t understand that.

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    Mute McNulty Jimmy
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:13 AM

    @Sean: Maybe, but you calling me an idiot could also be construed as hate speech, as I, if I was so inclined, could possibly feel hated upon. Where does it begin and where does it end is my concern.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:47 AM

    @McNulty Jimmy: he didn’t describe how to kill idiots. That’s the difference.

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    Mute McNulty Jimmy
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:52 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: That’s incitement to violence, people are very quick to conflate the two which is very worrying.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:53 AM

    @McNulty Jimmy: more fair and balance as opposed to hateful.

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:47 PM

    @The Risen: its not hate speech. If people want to deliberately misinterpret what somebody is saying to further their own anti church agenda then that is truly hateful.

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:44 PM

    @McNulty Jimmy:
    How would calling you an idiot be construct as hate speech? It’s just simply stating a fact based on your comments.
    This priest is demonstrating the perfect example of where hate speech begins and ends.
    Join a organisation an organization that has a track record of 1600 years and counting in oppressing persecuting and mudering the people he hates for no other reason than the fact that they exist. In this case Gay people. Use your position of trust and authority to convince his followers that gay people are dangerous monster Zombies (in the full knowledge that they are not) and that they need to be exterminated. Give instructions on how to exterminate gay people.
    How much further than that do you think is required before something is classified as hate speech?

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:07 PM

    You won’t find a more ardent anti-theist than me and I’ve always fully supported gay rights but this is ridiculous. The blasphemy law was stupid and this is stupid.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:08 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: you think anti-hate speech laws are stupid?

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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:13 PM

    @G Manning: Yeah exactly. You’re allowed to hate people and you’re allowed to express that hate. And then people are free you judge you on what you say. Hate is an emotion. What other emotions should we ban? This isn’t a matter for the Gardaí.

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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:23 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: entitled to your opinion, thankfully the law disagrees with you. And you’re still free to hate to your little hearts content (as you should be) there’s just legal consequences to hate speech. Though it being Ireland I imagine they’re a limp slap on the wrist at most.

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    Mute NickyVera
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:31 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: hate speech is dangerous as it can inspire acts of hate in those who are easily corrupted. Just look at what’s going on in the US, UK, never mind Germany’s past – all started by hate speech. While I advocate free speech, hate speech is not the same thing.

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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:32 PM

    @G Manning: You pose more of a danger to Irish society than the current incarnation of the Catholic Church. We all but removed their power from society. Now I’m worried about authoritarian people like you.

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    Mute Orpuk Jones
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:36 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: This isn’t just hate speech. It’s encouraging violence in a public forum against a minority. If it were another country and a priest got up and said Irish people were like zombies, and the only way to deal with them was to “stab or shoot them in the brain”, then you’d undoubtedly have a different opinion.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:48 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: Jebus that’s priceless. Weird you’ve such an inflated opinion of my influence though. Didn’t realise proposing the laws of a democratic state be enforced was authoritarian. Which dictionary are you working from cos ur definition seem to differ from mine.

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    Mute Peter Lewis Jnr
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:49 PM

    @Orpuk Jones: most people would P/$$ themselves laughing if that were to ever happen.

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:59 PM

    @NickyVera: Direct calls for violence are illegal. That’s fine. There are limits on free speech. You can’t yell “fire” in a crowded theatre when there’s no fire. Libel laws make sense. Hate speech laws don’t make sense. Defining where to draw then line is the first problem and real hateful people promoting hate know how to tip-toe just up to it without really crossing it. The application of hate speech laws to legitimate criticism is another problem. The beauty of western society is that people are (or should be) given the freedom to think and say what they feel. We have a market place of free ideas. In theory the best ideas rise & the bad ones fall but there’s always a risk that won’t happen. Our freedoms come with risk but our society wouldn’t be as great without them.

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    Mute Jenny Boyle
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:07 AM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: You clearly don’t have a clue about the law, your comments are mortifyingly imbelic.

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:12 AM

    @G Manning: “favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom”. That sounds about right. You’re no better than the Catholic Church with their blasphemy laws. While I can’t speak for your personal power this case is being investigated by the Gardaí so you’re hardly alone. It’s possible for an authoritarian law that suppresses fundamental rights to be passed in a democracy. You’re the one in favour of suppressing what I consider a fundamental right. I’ll oppose your ideas like I oppose not letting gay couples marry, women not having autonomy over their own bodies, blasphemy laws etc.. You’re on the wrong side of this one.

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:22 AM

    @Jenny Boyle: Well it sounds like you don’t understand that it’s possible to disagree with the law. They’re written by men. I’m not talking about the way things are I’m talking about how they should be. There used to be laws that criminalised gay people in this country. So I’d suggest that you sound like the imbecile, particularly for resorting to an ad hominem instead of an actual argument.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:28 AM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: calling on people to murder specific groups is a fundamental right? Rite so glad we cleared that up. By extension of your logic you’d oppose anything that impedes personal freedoms, so that’d be pretty much every law then. There has to be a line, yes? We just differ on where it should be. Thankfully your opposition means diddle all, much as I’m sure whatever sanction, if imposed, will be. And no I’m thankfully very much not on the wrong side of this. Nite nite hon

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:43 AM

    @Orpuk Jones: Sounds more like a bad metaphor to me than a call for violence. Another problem with hate speech is how subjective it is and how slight nuances can change the meaning. By the way I couldn’t disagree more with his comments. I just think he should have the right to say them without the guards getting involved. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t face consequences.

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:53 AM

    @G Manning: if you honestly think he was calling for drug addicts, fornicators, gay people, people who get abortions etc. to be murdered you’re more to be pitied. He’s clearly talking about these ideas and using zombies as a metaphor for them and not the people (or at least that’s what the snippets from the article suggest to me). Sounds like he watched The Walking Dead the night before and lost then run of himself with a s****y metaphor.

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Jun 19th 2019, 4:20 AM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu:
    So you think that a man that represents an organisation that has a history of oppressing persecution and murdering gay people in their millions over the past 1600 years and counting calling for their millions of followers to put a gun two gay people’s heads and pull the trigger in light of this history is not incitement to hatred.
    FACE PALM.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:24 AM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: and in my view he’s clearly engaging in hate speech but seeing as neither of us were dere the gardai will investigate the alleged crime and reach a conclusion. U know like they would with any other alleged crime. But ur rite, being realistic, what’s the chance of a Catholic priest inciting people to violence??? I mean when has that ever happened???

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:49 PM

    @G Manning: you think this is a valid use if our police force?

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:54 PM

    @Seamus Mac:
    Yes it is about time some of the Catholic Church’s hierarchy were prosecuted for their 1600 year and counting homophobic hate agenda that has resulted in the oppression, persecution and murder of millions of gay people. Let’s hope more resources are pumped in to being these dangerous criminals to Justice.

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:37 PM

    @James Joseph: so this man is a criminal in your opinion?

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    Mute On the Up
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:17 PM

    “The only way to deal with monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain” This is hate speech and incitement. Would love to see the Gardai taking a prosecution in this case. No one is above the law. Very feeble apology too from the Capuchins. Usual few Trumpy Russian comments on here.

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    Mute Abinger Gregorious Hammer
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:29 AM

    My drug addiction and alcoholism are as a direct result of the abuse I received at the hands of a homosexual paedophilic man of the cloth.
    Although I am almost 15 years clean and sober, I still have not recovered from the mental anguish and probably never will. I have to accept this,but I cannot and will not accept the utterly useless and ridiculous comments from a supposedly theologian who has no knowledge of humanity.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:10 PM

    Prosecute him and every other priest guilty of a crime

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    Mute thomas patrick
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    Jun 19th 2019, 8:21 AM

    He said the same about people taking drugs and “fornicating” why is only gay people that are allowed be outraged.

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    Mute Paul
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:51 PM

    @thomas patrick: fornication and drug taking are a choice. Being gay is not. Also discrimination against sexual orientation is prohibited under law.

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:08 PM

    @thomas patrick: what can one say about the intellectual inadequacy of your contribution..

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    Mute De20
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:19 PM

    @TRUMPS#BLIMP: I don’t agree with what he said but I hope he sues you for libel

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:25 AM

    This is more of the Agenda against Free Speech and of course the Catholic Church. Make a complaint against the Priest, try to bring him down, that’s their agenda.

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    Mute jnulty17@gmail.com
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    Jun 19th 2019, 11:01 AM

    @Eugene Comaskey: no its not its just people don’t want the church to control every move in their life. Maybe some yes but not all have agenda and as you see that from sexual abuse scandal. You shouldn’t get so defensive its not like church is totally bad or good but question need to be answered

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:18 AM

    Zombies aren’t real.. But I pray to one anyway.. Logic really isn’t their friend is it??

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:06 PM

    @TRUMPS#BLIMP: I presume ul be heading to your nearest garda station to report his alleged crimes yes?

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    Mute Means of escape
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:08 PM

    Fr Fintan Stack

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    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:20 AM

    Is there anything to be said for saying another mass?

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    Mute Maurice Dodd
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:46 PM

    Wow, what a fuq up

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    Mute Keith Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 4:26 AM

    So should we still shoot condom users, fornicators, adulterers, substance abusers and people who voted yes for abortion? As long as the gays are ok.

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    Mute G Manning
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    Jun 19th 2019, 7:46 AM

    @Keith Manning: emmm….noooo!

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:02 AM

    @G Manning: Satire. You missed his point.

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    Mute jnulty17@gmail.com
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    Jun 19th 2019, 10:20 AM

    @Keith Manning: no

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    Mute jnulty17@gmail.com
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    Jun 19th 2019, 11:05 AM

    @Keith Manning: no and nobody is saying this m believe what you want to believe be a Catholic if ya want. But don’t expect a mass migration of agreement when they have done wrong too sexual abuse scandal. Just because Catholica have certain beliefs does not mean start slanderinh other religion or sexualities

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:07 PM

    @Keith Manning: u seem a little obsessed with gays? Anything you want to declare? Thankfully we live in a country where being gay is accepted ( apart from Fr Tom)

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    Mute Patrick Leonard
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:03 PM

    Consider that a young vunerable teenager may be in the congregation, coming to terms with their sexuality and they hear this from someone their community looks up to!

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    Mute Ol Iver Joyce
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    Jun 19th 2019, 1:30 PM

    This man was paid by the State to be Chaplain in UCC?. What damage has he done there?. Hate Speech no place in Irish society.

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    Mute TRUMPS#BLIMP
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    Jun 18th 2019, 11:16 PM

    @Vote4Pedro: I was being hypothetical!

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Jun 19th 2019, 5:04 PM

    Gay bashing- Usually a sign of repressed homosexuality. Maybe when his mammy passes on he might come out? Also, He wouldn’t have to look too far around his dinner table to find a few gay men. The church and Vatican is full of gay priests and nuns.

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    Mute Alan Baird
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    Jun 19th 2019, 2:54 PM

    There is another priest on the way from India, he preaches an extreme viewpoint. That due to our western lifestyles of porn, promiscuity, drinking. Essentially living like animals that is why we have children with autism. This is an attack and unfortunately time and time again, religious zealots take these words as a divine right to punish the Offenders.

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    Mute Leo Lalor
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    Jun 19th 2019, 9:17 AM

    Last time I asked Ireland had free speech

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    Mute Deirdre Howard
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    Jun 19th 2019, 12:21 AM

    We should not judge lest we too be judged.

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