THE pioneering work of an Ennis gay priest is the main focus of a documentary that will be broadcast in Miltown Malbay Community Hall on Tuesday, September 24 at 8pm.
“A Priest’s Testament” shot for Chanel 4 in the summer of 1987 tells the story of Fr Bernárd Lynch and his ministry to people with Aids in New York.
The Ennis-born priest and psychotherapist was closely involved with the LGBT community and founded the first pastoral outreach to people with Aids in New York.
He was subsequently drafted into the Mayor of New York’s Taskforce on Aids. His ministry and commitment led him into conflict with the Catholic Church authorities as well as bringing him into the most harrowing situation, preparing young people for the untimely deaths.
After the film, Mr Lynch will be available for a questions and answers session.
In May 2023, Clare County Council hosted a civic reception as An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) led the tributes for the outstanding work completed by Mr Lynch.
In a video message played in the Clare County Council chamber, Mr Varadkar lauded the huge contribution made by the Clare man in standing up for the LGBTQIA+ community and thanked him for his work on HIV campaigns.
“I am really glad Clare County Council is having this celebration,” the Taoiseach said.
Mr Lynch is an “out” gay Irish born Roman Catholic priest, author, and activist
who has worked for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people for almost fifty years. He has
an interdisciplinary Doctorate in counselling psychology and theology from New
York Theological Seminary and Fordham University.
He publicly testified in favour of New York City’s lesbian and gay rights bill that
bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in jobs and public
accommodations, seeing it through to passage by New York City Council in
1986.
In 2012, Mr Lynch was expelled from his religious order – the Society of African
Missions. The Ennis native recalled this was very difficult because the order was very
kind and supportive to him in the past but acknowledged this was initiated by the
Vatican who couldn’t support a married gay priest.
In 2006, he became the first Catholic priest to become part of a civil partnership.
Eleven years later, the St Michael’s Villas, Ennis native married his husband, Billy
Desmond from Cork in the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point.
Describing this as one of the happiest moments in his life, he said it was particularly
special to become the first gay couple in Clare to get married.
The eldest of six, his mother, Kitty Slattery came from Turnpike, Ennis like her
father before her. John Lynch, his father, was a Clarecastle native – a “Magpie”.
Mr Lynch thanked the council for bestowing on him, his husband and family the highest civic
honour from the local authority.
Stressing this reception wasn’t just about him, it was a recognition of Irish women and men who had to leave Ireland because they didn’t fit in as they were born gay LGBT as God made us.
“We were but thankfully we are no longer sexual outlaws. I want to particularly honour today those who left Ireland but couldn’t come home even to die. I am convinced home is not a place at all but an irrevocable condition of the heart,” he said.
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.