The Association of Catholic Priests has condemned a Cork priest for refusing to give Fine Gael TD Colm Burke communion.

The Cork Minister of State was refused the sacrament while attending a funeral at Whitechurch in the Parish of Blarney on Friday.

Deputy Burke said he was told he had been "excommunicated".

It is believed he was refused the sacrament due to supporting the legalisation of abortion.

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has condemned the actions of the priest, saying that the priest "does not own the Eucharist".

"It is not the role of the priest to judge the conscience of another person," the group said in a statement.

On Newstalk Breakfast, ACP member Fr Tim Hazelwood said he “would not condone” a priest who refuses the Eucharist to someone coming to mass “in good faith”.

“When does it end if we start doing that," he said.  "Who is worthy to receive communion?”

“We don't think communion should be used in that way – especially in the circumstances of that particular mass, a funeral mass. 

“It was sensitive to the family and now all the talk is about this happening.” 

Refusing communion

The Catholic Church is against all forms of abortion since it holds “human life that must be respected”. 

Fr Hazelwood pointed out, however, that the Catholic Church cannot include only those who agree with the Church’s teachings completely. 

“How many of us would fit into the club if you had to qualify and be perfect?” he said. 

“If you take [the abortion] referendum, how many people voted in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment – should all those be excommunicated? 

“That would be half the church of people who attended mass that day.” 

Fr Hazelwood also noted that Pope Francis himself has often said he has never refused communion to anyone. 

“There are ways of putting our point across and this will alienate people more,” he said. 

The ACP said getting an abortion is "complex, morally and medically".

 "Legislators have to balance two sets of rights, the right of the unborn child to life and the free decision-making right of the mother," it said.

"Public representatives are tasked with finding a balance between both."

The group also noted that before the Eighth Amendment was repealed in 2018, Irish women "were travelling abroad to avail of abortion services, while legislators and citizens looked the other way".