CM Exclusive: Interview With Irish Editor Receiving Death Threats

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DUBLIN (ChurchMilitant.com) - The editor of the Catholic Voice Ireland has been receiving death threats from the Irish Republican Army.

"I have been threatened by members of the local Sinn Fein IRA Party not to go into my local town unless I have a 'death wish,'" Athony Murphy told Church Militant. He first alerted Catholics to the death threats on his Facebook page Thursday. Church Militant spoke with Murphy shortly after on Friday morning.

Problems started after two female extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist at Murphy's parish entered into a so-called-same-sex marriage earlier this year. Murphy initially contacted the parish priest but was met with opposition.

"He is accepting of their 'marriage' and had told me that everyone has a right to happiness," Murphy commented to Church Militant. "He also accused me of homophobia."

Murphy then took matters into his own hands. He sent out a text to other parishioners urging them to reconsider the position of the women in the parish. Shortly after, the women stepped down from choir and Holy Communion duties. They then went on radio to paint Murphy as a "mean" Catholic.

Murphy said on radio in response, "You cannot have contradiction where the Church teaches one thing and people who are right next to the tabernacle, the Blessed Sacrament, contradict all of that teaching."

The women are still attending Mass although they have stepped down from their leadership positions in the parish. "This was not an issue about the women — they are children of God — but it is about their suitability to hold leadership positions in the parish."

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