A controversial Donegal priest has hit out at people ‘yapping’ in church during Mass.
It was one of many comments on the subject made by Fr Shane Gallagher during a sermon recently in the pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. The sermon was recorded by the local MaryTV channel.
“What do people do when they come into mass? They chat to each other, they’re dying to chat,” he said.
“Stop chatting during the sign of peace, just give the sign of peace and get on with it.”
He also said if people hear their priest saying something they’re not happy with, they’re ‘emailing the Bishop’ about it or complaining to the media.
“I’ve a big pile of letters, by the way, and I’ll probably get a few out of this (sermon) too,” he added.
“We treat the church like it’s a market hall, or a pub. But, it’s not a pub. If you want to yap, go to Columbo’s (local cafe) and do it in style. But in here, keep your silence.”
If people were talking in Mass, he continued, God was being silenced but the devil was “d-e-l-i-g-h-t-e-d.”
The Ballybofey native, who is currently Chaplin at Letterkenny University Hospital, also complained about young people who constantly listened to loud music.
“If anybody in here is listening to that rubbish, get your heads checked.”
Watch Fr Gallagher’s sermon below.
Fr Gallagher made national news in October 2013 when he reprimanded a church singer in Lettermacaward over a mix-up of the singing of a popular hymn.
The then Bishop of Raphoe, Dr.Philip Boyce, later stepped-in to resolve the row by apologising to the young woman.
Fr Gallagher mistakenly thought the song was Voice of an Angel by pop singer Sarah McLochlan and ordered the woman not to sing it again.
However, she explained it was a different song of the same name by Fr Liam Lawton.
A row ensued in which she claimed she was shouted at by Fr Gallagher.
She later confirmed to Donegal Daily that Bishop Boyce had contacted her to apologise over the matter.
However, she said she had not received any contact from Fr Gallagher.
She said that herself and her family would remain away from St Bridget’s Church while he was the priest there.
Our previous article is here:
https://www.donegaldaily.com/2013/10/06/donegal-priest-and-choir-singer-in-unholy-row-over-song/
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