A Catholic priest has been reprimanded after he claimed that Jesus died on the cross with an erection.
Father Thomas McHale, the priest at Our Blessed Lady Immaculate in Blackhill, Consett, County Durham, told roughly 100 churchgoers on Good Friday that the blood would have rushed to Christ’s bottom half as he was nailed to the cross.
The 53-year-old American “shocked” those assembled, according to one person who told the Times: “He told people Jesus died with an erection. The church was shocked. There were young families there.”
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It is believed that Father McHale has not lost his job, but has been reprimanded.
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A spokesman for the diocese of Hexham & Newcastle told the publication: “A complaint was received and has been investigated in keeping with our diocesan complaints policy.
“The investigation has been very recently completed and the complaint is upheld.”
Just days before Christmas 2019, the vicar of Chrishall’s parish church was forced to apologise after questioning the existence of Father Christmas at a service held for village primary school pupils.
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Revd Dr Anand Sodadasi, of Holy Trinity Church in the Essex village, raised his views in front of Chrishall Holy Trinity and St Nicholas Church of England Primary School youngsters and staff.
A statement from the Diocese of Chelmsford, on behalf of Revd Anand Sodadasi, said: “I am truly sorry to have upset parents through my reflection on the idea of Santa Claus at the carol service attended by the pupils of Chrishall Holy Trinity and St Nicholas Church of England Primary School.
“I respect the children’s imaginative world of fun and joy during Christmas and I would never in a million years intentionally upset them in any way.
“I have worked with the school to apologise to parents and children for any upset caused.”
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