Statement from the Diocese of Down and Connor

22 Jun 2014

Statement from the Diocese of Down and Connor issued in response to recent media inquiries in respect of Holy Rosary Parish, Belfast.

“No permission was either sought or granted to film the interior of the parish church within the context of any conduct or activities that were not relating to prayer or homage and in accordance with the sanctity of the Church.

The behaviour in the video was a desecration of the Church and caused most grievous distress to the parish priest and if viewed by the parishioners would cause severe hurt and distress to the wider parish community.

For these reasons, to protect the Church and its parishioners, the Diocese of Down and Connor immediately brought these concerns to the attention of the distributors and creators of the material which was unlawfully obtained by deception and trespass.

The originators / creators and distributors gave us an undertaking that the unlawful material would be removed from circulation and destroyed.”

Ends