A Catholic priest has been fired in Italy – after throwing steamy gay orgies in which he’d ask men to re-enact the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.

The priest, who served in a religious order in Taranto, Italy, was let go this week after the Church obtained evidence of his activites – including sex with gay prostitutes and Christ-based role play.

The clergyman’s activities came to light when one of his lovers – who played Judas during their roleplay sessions – ironically betrayed him in real life to the church authorities.

According to the newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno, a 32-year-old man, from Rovigo in northeast Italy blew the whistle on his online conversations and cam sessions with the priest.

He said: “I needed spiritual help… He told me my pictures made him excited and asked me to send him an intimate photo.

“He told me that he liked guys, especially young ones, and that he could do everything for them, also help them to buy clothes, mobile phones and recharge costs.”

A statement from the diocese confirmed that the priest has been removed from his position.

Last month, a priest in the UK who entered into a civil partnership with another man was reinstated by the Catholic Church – because the pairing was an immigration scam, and not an act of love.

Father Donald Minchew led St Mary’s Catholic Church in Croydon but was suspended last year after he admitted to tying the knot with the man in 2008.