An apology was read out at all Masses in a Galway city church at the weekend on behalf of a young priest who posed naked for a charity calendar which was due to be published next week.
The organisers of the "Bare Shakers 2001" calendar have agreed to withdraw the photograph of Father Olan Rynn. The calendar was due to be launched on January 18th. Father Rynn had used a Bible and a collar to protect his modesty.
The apology and withdrawal of the photograph followed an intervention by the Bishop of Galway, Dr James McLoughlin, who said he did not appreciate the type of calendar that was envisaged when he spoke briefly to Father Rynn about the project some weeks ago.
"Thinking it to be a straightforward fundraising project in aid of two worthy causes, I gave Father Rynn permission to participate in the venture," said Bishop McLoughlin in a statement yesterday.
"On reading a report in a local newspaper on Friday afternoon, I was surprised and dismayed to discover what the content of the calendar was going to be. As it is clearly inappropriate for a priest to appear in such a calendar, I immediately approached the promoters of the project to discuss the matter with them."
The promoters agreed to withdraw the photograph, and an apology was read out at Masses in Salthill parish at the weekend. Father Rynn, a curate in Salthill, could not be contacted as he was away on holidays that had been arranged prior to the controversy.
All proceeds from the calendar, which was the idea of a young mother, Ms Aileen Dunleavy, are to go to the cerebral palsy charity, Enable Ireland, and the fight against cancer.
It features 12 photographs of sporting personalities in Galway, including Olympic oarsman Neville Maxwell and members of the Galway United and Galwegians teams. Ms Dunleavy said all the photographs were in good taste.