Priest criticises ‘advanced liberalism’

A MISSIONARY priest has spoken out against widespread “advanced liberalism” that forbids us from holding politically incorrect views or being shocked or outraged by things we consider “immoral”.

Fr Tomás Walsh, of Ballyphehane in Cork city, was speaking in response to online comments made by newly elected chairman of Ógra Fianna Fáil at UCC, Eoin Furlong, that the lifestyles engaged by the majority of homosexuals was something he could not accept and “thankfully the Civil Partnership Bill does not allow same-sex couples to adopt.”

At the time of his election, however, Mr Furlong removed the piece from his blog and explained to the Irish Examiner that he apologised and “did not intend for it to be taken seriously”.

According to Fr Walsh, however, Mr Furlong is only “one of a long line” of people who have retracted politically incorrect opinions under “the tyranny of advanced liberalism now sweeping through the western world.

“This new type of ‘advanced liberalism’ forbids us forming opinions that some things are immoral, denies us the right to make judgments and forbids us from being shocked or outraged.

“Here is someone aspiring to be part of a political era of transparency and next thing, he turns back on his opinions. I don’t mind what views you have as long as you don’t turn back on them,” Fr Walsh said.

Fr Walsh added that while he did not support the views of Mr Furlong, he would question the reasons for Mr Furlong’s apology when similar views on homosexual lifestyle and civil union were considered mainstream for years.

“Why have views that have been mainstream for thousands of years suddenly become marginalised and the holders of such views seen as subversive? If Mr Furlong did not intend the readers to take his opinions seriously when he posted them on his blog, then they were untruths — and if they were untruths, why should we take any of his other words seriously.

“If, on the other hand, Mr Furlong did believe what he wrote when he wrote it and wished his opinions to be taken seriously but, later, under pressure from Fianna Fáil HQ, recanted, then his latter statement is also untruthful and his actions portrays him as one with no courage and little conscience.”