IRELAND
Irish Independent
Sarah MacDonald
PUBLISHED
28/11/2014
Ground-breaking new research into the sexual lives of Irish Catholic priests has revealed many of them are or have been sexually active, that the bishops are aware of the situation, and that there is a gay scene within the church.
‘Thirty-Three Good Men: Celibacy, Obedience and Identity’ publishes new analysis of priests’ views from a series of interviews conducted by Dr John Weafer, a former seminarian who is now married with children.
The book, which has just been published by Columba Books, reveals that one parish priest interviewed confidentially by Weafer is in a long term gay relationship.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, the author said ‘Fr C’ was “very happy with his life as a priest and a person”.
Another priest interviewed, ‘Fr L’ was ordained in the 1990s. It was only when he was ordained that he finally ended up ‘sleeping’ with another priest.
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