Armagh priest forced to take leave of absence after sending nudes on Grindr

A priest who taught at a Catholic school has been forced to take a leave of absence after a past pupil claims he sent him nude messages.

Support for Father Rory Coyle has been high on Facebook and Twitter following the emerging details of the story.

Parishioners have commented that Coyle is a dutiful priest and have called for the church to over look sexuality and stop contributing to the oppression of sexual desires.

The young man who leaked the story told the Thinking Catholicism blog:

“He’s just a hypocrite. Denouncing gay people from the pulpit and then shagging guys when no one is looking.”

The man was over 18 so there is no suggestion that Coyle participated in any illegal activity.

The former student says Coyle was very sexually explicit.

“Orgies in Dublin, gay beaches in Portugal, renting rooms by the hour in Soho in London for sex meets. He told me all about it. He told me a whole lot more about his exploits but I didn't save it. He's a total pervert” he said in an email.

A spokesperson for the church said:

“Early in March, Father Rory Coyle asked Archbishop Eamon Martin for time off to obtain personal and spiritual support.

“Following this, on March 22 he asked the Archbishop to extend his leave so that he could ‘engage in a period of personal discernment and receive further help.’

“Father Coyle’s request was granted and he is currently on a leave of absence”.

Pink News reports that the Vatican operate a sex clinic for priests caught breaking their vow of abstinence.

A former priest, Mario Bonfanti, made claims last year.

“There exists a convent where priests who manifest inappropriate sexual tendencies are sent to reflect,” he said.

“It’s a place where they help you to rediscover the straight and narrow. They wanted to ‘cure’ me but I refused to go.”