Sir, - Can I be the only one who finds the notion of a Catholic priest posing nude on a calendar for charity to be highly improper and outrageous? What has become of the Church's teaching on modesty, purity and chastity? It seems beyond belief that a priest would not see the inappropriateness (to say the very least) of this conduct. The tabloids, of course, made great play of all of this, featuring the young priest on their front pages, complete with lurid, sensational headlines.
I understand that Bishop McLoughlin of Galway has requested that the offending photograph is not published and the priest himself arrange for apologies to be read at Masses in his parish. The question is; why did he pose for the photo? What was he thinking of at the time? Did he not feel that his behaviour would cause deep offence and pain? What about the example and message that it sent to young people, and at a time when the Church is going through a very bad patch? The whole thing is almost beyond belief.
There is, of course, another point. What is the purpose and point of such a calendar? If people want to give to charity, surely they should do so without having to take part in silly, vulgar gimmicks? I can never understand why someone should have to shave his head or push an orange up a hill with his nose, or perform some equally ridiculous gimmick, in order to get people to give to some charitable cause. If the cause is a deserving one, then just give!
When I read the headlines in the tabloids, I was filled with a sense of sadness and deep disappointment. It was a sordid story, a further lowering of standards, and it can only help to bring the priesthood into further disrespect. - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Redmond, North Great George's Street, Dublin 1.