A Catholic priest in India has been filmed condemning women who wear jeans, saying they should be 'drowned in the sea'.

Father Sharlom told a crowd in the state of Kerala that he does not wish to let women in jeans into his church.

He also can be heard justifying a man who raped his sister because she wore 'revealing shorts and t-shirts'.

In the video Father Sharlom tells a crowd at a Christian convention that women who dress provocatively 'deserve to be tied down to the depths of the sea'

The priest made the speech at a Christian convention and it was later aired on a religious television channel.

The clip was uploaded to the internet nearly 11 months ago but it has recently gone viral.

Speaking on camera, Father Sharlom says: 'After I lecture young men on the ways of God, they come to me later and tell me, "Father, after absorbing all the knowledge you give us, we exit and are exposed to semi-naked women. We’re involuntarily provoked and aroused".

'When a father or a young man has come to the church to offer themselves to the God, if you’re standing beside him, having dressed provocatively enough to distract him, you’re a sinner, and you deserve to be tied down to the depths of the sea.'

He goes on to talk about how he was visited by a man who had 'got his elder sister pregnant' for counselling.

The priest also tried to justify a man raping and impregnating his sister because she wore 'revealing shorts'

He says: 'When I asked him why he had committed the sin, he shared his sorrow with me.

'He told me when their parents left for work, it was just his sister and him alone at home. All he could see was her roaming around in her revealing shorts and tee.

'If you are someone who provokes their own brother and family, my Lord won’t accept you if you come to the church.'

Father Sharlom was approached for comment but was reluctant to discuss the video.

He told NDTV, 'I have not uploaded it and the video has been edited with vested interest,' before reportedly hanging up the phone.

Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Church, Father Paul Thellakkat in Kochi said, 'What that preacher has said is unwarranted. No priest has the right to dictate a dress code to women.'

The video, shared on Facebook, has angered many people.

One commenter wrote: 'These stupid words are indicating "a holier-than-thou attitude" in this priest.

'His negative and arrogant remarks are gender discriminative and misogynistic.

'This preacher should have the merciful mind of Christ.'

Another wrote: 'If dressing is the cause for all bad things happening to women, then why are girls in purdah and uniforms raped?'