An
Irish Catholic priest participating in a Mass earlier this month where a
“married” lesbian couple received a standing ovation after returning to
active music ministry has denounced the event, saying the Mass was
“hijacked” by gay activists.
“I was not present to promote or condone same-sex
‘marriage’ or what appeared to be the apparent triumphant and victorious
return of our musical directors which seemed to become the focus of the
evening. In my opinion, the Mass was hijacked to support the cause of
same-sex ‘marriage’ which is clearly in breach of Catholic Church
teachings,” Fr. Brendan Kealy wrote in a hard-hitting letter published September 14 on Catholic Voice.
“My intentions first and foremost was to celebrate the
Eucharist which is the source and summit of our community’s Christian
life,” he continued.
Fr. Kealy said he was one of five priests concelebrating
Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Athy on September 10 — an
event to mark the 50th anniversary of a fellow priest as well as his own
departure from being a curate to Athy parishes — when a newly “married”
lesbian couple received a standing ovation along with wild cheers and
whistles of approval after leading the choir located in the sanctuary,
as reported by LifeSiteNews last week.
“This breach was displayed openly and in a very public
manner from the holy sanctuary. I felt very uncomfortable about this as I
had not given my blessing to such a union,” he said.
“I felt Saturday evening’s principal purpose of the Mass
was grossly lost and I regret my participation simply because my
presence as a priest appeared to give credence to surrounding events,
which was misleading. I participated in the Mass with good intentions. I
was not consulted in any form or manner regarding the girls’ renewed
presence on the sanctuary to lead the choir that evening,” he added.
Fr. Kealy said the ladies’ civil same-sex “marriage” is
unsupportable because it “blatantly contradicts and challenges the
teachings of their Catholic Church, and the instruction of Pope
Francis.”
“I can understand non-practicing Catholics ignoring Church
rules, but practicing Catholics to ignore them is mind-boggling? Surely,
it makes sense for practicing Catholics to be in full agreement with
the teachings of their Church? St. John Paul II in conjunction with the
future Pope Benedict XVI wrote in 2003 that all Catholics are obliged to
oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions and where such unions
are given the legal status and rights that belong to marriage, clear
and emphatic opposition is a duty. My position is very clear, I believe
that marriage is between a man and a woman only,” he said.
The curate said he felt compelled to write the letter
because “as a Catholic priest and a spiritual father, I have a moral
obligation and duty to express my opposition to same sex unions,
regardless if it is recognized by civil law, or by certain members
within a community who ignore divine law.”
“I was anointed to give witness to the Truth, based on
Jesus’ teachings. The institution of marriage in God’s eyes, is
exclusively reserved between a man and a woman,” he wrote.
Fr. Kealy said that while everyone, including gays and
lesbians, are welcome in the Catholic Church, the Church can never
accept homosexual practices.
“A gay man or woman does not offend God or the Church, it
is acts of sinful and selfish behavior that offends God. Our bodies are
created to give worship to our Creator and our lives become an act of
adoration in spirit and truth. To defile the body is to hold the whip
again at Calvary, to be the one stripping Jesus at the foot of the
Cross,” he wrote.