“I think they are very hurtful, unfortunate comments.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar caused deep offence with his comments in the Dáil directed at opposition leader Micheál Martin, according to Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore.
In an exchange with Martin, Varadkar said: “I am always amused and bemused that Deputy Martin likes to accuse me of being partisan and personal yet, as is evidenced by his name-calling today, he’s very capable of being partisan and personalised himself.
“He kind of reminds me of one of those parish priests who preaches from the altar, telling us how to avoid sin, while secretly going behind the altar and engaging in any amount of sin himself.”
Cullinan expressed his disappointment at the comments made by the Fine Gael leader.
Speaking on Today with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1, Cullinan said that the comment was unfortunate and many people had expressed their deep offence at what the Taoiseach said.
“I think they are very hurtful, unfortunate comments,” Cullinan said.
“I would like to stand up for the 99% of priests across the country who are working hard and are loved by their parishioners, and if any of them are listening in I would like to say to them, well done, you are doing a great job and keep it going.”
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