A NORTHERN IRISH priest has said that Catholics who are in favour of abortion should not be allowed to marry in a church.

Father Patrick McCafferty, of Corpus Christi Parish in Belfast said that Catholics who do not agree with the Church’s stance on abortion can "get married in City Hall" rather than being "hypocritical and dishonest by using the church for a day".

Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, he added that he considered it to be "dishonest to have a wedding in a church if you don't respect or regard what the faith is about".

"You are using the Church and abusing the sacrament. There is City Hall, or there are town halls and country houses that offer themselves as venues for weddings.

"If you don't support the Church's teaching on a fundamental issue, why be hypocritical and dishonest by using the church for a day?


"It's a total fiasco."

His comments come less than a week after the Republic of Ireland voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment which previously gave equal rights to both the mother and unborn child.

Father McCafferty is one of several priests to speak out against the decision to legalise abortion.

Earlier this week, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran said those who voted yes in the abortion referendum should consider confession.

Fr McCarthy’s comments came after a Newry priest reportedly warned a couple that advocating abortion could mean their wedding not taking place in a Catholic Church.

According to BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, Fr Damien Quigley told the couple he had been asked to marry that their "promotion or advocacy" could also lead to him not being able to officiate at their ceremony.

Fr Quigley reportedly wrote to the couple saying: "Just a heads up, that as the priest you've asked to celebrate your wedding, you and I would need to have a conversation about any promotion you may do to advocate for abortion in Ireland.


"Such promotion or advocacy would impact on the appropriateness of me celebrating your wedding or possibly the wedding taking place in a Catholic Church.”

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed yesterday that legislation on abortion will not come into effect until January 2019.