Church buildings would not be suitable for use as emergency accommodation to help those experiencing homelessness.
That is according to Fr Iggy O'Donovan, a member of the Augustinian Order in County Tipperary.
He joined Newstalk Breakfast to discuss why such a move wouldn't be feasible.
"All I know is that the little place I'm in, one convent in this village has around 40 people in it now from Ukraine."
"The churches themselves, the physical building, most Irish people don't go into them anymore, so it is a bit much to expect Ukrainians to go in."
"Besides, most of them are large, cold, grey buildings."
'Most unsuitable'
Many churches and old houses and seminaries would be "most unsuitable", according to Fr O'Donovan.
He believes it could be a "safeguarding issue".
Newstalk Breakfast Presenter Ciara Kelly asked the Fr O'Donovan what Jesus would do.
"I do not know", he said.
"Jesus is not with us here on this one anymore than what the prophet Mohammed might've done or what Brian Boru might've done."
'Absolute disgrace'
Independent Councillor David Hynes in Wexford who says the issue was recently raised at a district meeting believes that the Church should give up some of its buildings to help house the homeless.
There is currently no emergency accommodation in Wexford town.
"People are presenting themselves regularly to the council", he said.
"Yet, we have many vacant buildings."
"It's an absolute disgrace."
'A certain amount of work'
Councillor Hynes said that Church buildings would only be part of extra efforts to shelter the homeless.
"It was rather surprising that nobody had proposed the churches ... after all, people are being asked to open their homes to [refugees]."
He said that while not all Church buildings may be suitable, he "would imagine that a certain amount of work that they can be made".
There are "at least two" Church buildings that come to mind, that have already housed clergy members, and would have space to house other people, "due to the drop in vocations".
"I just think that, in light of what's going on, there should be maybe an effort made to try and house people."
Main image shows the exterior of a church. Picture by: jordi clave garsot/Alamy
