It is being reported that Mary McAleese recently lobbied the Catholic Church to show leniency towards priests who have been silenced for liberal views on church teaching.
According to a report in today's Sunday Times, the former President told the Church's representative to Ireland that the priests were held in high esteem by the public.
During a lunch with the Papal Nuncio last month, Ms McAleese is understood to have said that the priests were keeping people in the church who would otherwise go elsewhere.
According to a report in today's Sunday Times, the former President told the Church's representative to Ireland that the priests were held in high esteem by the public.
During a lunch with the Papal Nuncio last month, Ms McAleese is understood to have said that the priests were keeping people in the church who would otherwise go elsewhere.