The Bishop of Ossory, Dermot Farrell, has welcomed an apology after a priest in Co Kilkenny said the only way to deal with gay people was to "shoot them in the brain".
Fr Tom Forde compared gay people to infected zombies in a homily on Saturday.
He said this was "the abuse of drugs and alcohol, adultery, fornication and homosexuality, as well as in the acceptance of abortion and contraception and in the move to legalise euthanasia".
"We sense that many of those around us are physically alive but spiritually dead, morally rotten or at least infected," he said.
Speaking about zombies, after admitting he was a fan of TV shows like 'The Walking Dead' he said: "Once you are bitten you are infected and there is no hope.
"The only way to deal with the monsters is to stab or shoot them in the brain."
This was subsequently published in an online blog, which has since been removed.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Capuchin Order said: "All are welcome in our churches, irrespective of sexual orientation.
"Unfortunate comments were made about homosexuality last Saturday, which gay people would have found hurtful, and we deeply regret this."
Referring to comments in which Pope Francis said "God made you like this and he loves you", the order added: "We support Pope Francis in his comments on gay people and we will continue to be guided by him and by our own mission statement, which states that, 'we affirm that our fraternities will be places of prayer, hospitality and outreach to all'".
In a statement on Thursday, Bishop Farrell said: "I was saddened to learn of the inappropriate language and sentiments used during a homily at the Capuchin Friary last weekend."
"As followers of Christ, the Gospel we proclaim is about the welcome and inclusion of all; as every person - no matter their faith, or race, or sexual orientation - is made by God and is loved by God.
"I am saddened too that a liturgy was used to convey any sentiment so at variance with our understanding of God.
"Words can hurt and care needs to be taken by all, in all situations, so as not to alienate, hurt or cause offence."
Bishop Farrell added: "When harm is done an apology is to be given.
"I welcome, therefore, the statement of the Capuchin Order expressing their deep regret and their strong reaffirmation of their welcome of all people.
"I know the affection in which they are held by the people of Kilkenny.
"I express our appreciation for the Capuchins' service of the most vulnerable [in Kilkenny and beyond], and I thank them for outlining clearly their views on the good news of the inclusion of all."
The executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O' Gorman, has said it is shocking to hear something like this in 2019.
"To say that the only cure for zombies is to stab or shoot them in the head: it's extraordinary stuff.
"It's not just thoughtless, it's profoundly homophobic, it's profoundly misogynistic, it's grounded in extraordinary levels of bigotry and it's been preached from an alter - it's shocking".
"This isn't a victimless crime - the impact of that kind of language being used to a congregation, and there may well have been LGBT people in the audience, this is the kind of language that empowers hate.
"This is the kind of language that seems to suggest that violence is an acceptable response to people that are being demonised".
