Church demands apology from D’Arcy
Ray D’Arcy from Today FM, who describes himself as an atheist, told listeners on Friday that “the Catholic Church, in many ways, had fucked up this country” during a review of the newspapers.
Mr D’Arcy had been commenting on a newspaper report about the Dáil debate on a bill brought forward by Socialist Party TD Clare Daly to legislate for the X case and allow abortion in cases where the mother’s health was in doubt.
After referring to the ‘fornication’ remarks by Fine Gael Mayo TD Michelle Mulherin, Mr D’Arcy made what the Catholic Communications Office described as a “grossly offensive and factually inaccurate statement”.
Office director Martin Long sent a formal complaint to Today FM about the presenter’s statement on Friday afternoon demanding an apology and retraction.
“All those who hold the Catholic faith dear are deeply insulted by this appalling language,” he wrote.
“By any objective or subjective measure, lay and religious members of the Catholic Church have and continue to contribute to the common good of our society, particularly in the areas of poverty, social justice, health and education.”
Mr Long added that it was shocking to hear such language on a national radio station at 9.15am on a school day morning.
“I ask that an apology and retraction be broadcast by the presenter at an equivalent time the next time the programme is broadcast.”
Producer Will Hanafin said the presenter apologised later during the Friday morning’s programme for using the “F-word in the heat of the moment”. He said the complaint would be discussed at a meeting this morning.
Contacted about the matter yesterday, Mr Long said the statement by Mr D’Arcy was not a rational argument; it was an example of media bias against the Church.
“People can criticise the Church. That’s fine. But when the criticism isn’t rational, it’s bias in my view,” he said.
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