A RURAL PARISH in Munster is continuing to hold Mass at a church where an alleged sex act was caught on camera.
A Garda investigation has been launched into the incident after photographs emerged showing two men engaging in an apparent sex act on the church's altar.
A Catholic priest has allegedly emerged as a prime suspect in the garda probe.
Despite the controversy and the investigation, it is understood that Mass has still been taking place at the church in the wake of the incident.
On May 2, a complaint was made to a Garda district, and officers were last week in the process of verifying the images.
A person who obtained the images, who wished to remain anonymous, described the incident as "an abomination".
The photographs, which began to circulate last week, show a man in priest's vestments engaging in a sex act on the altar with another man.
A source who spoke to the Irish Independent called for "some sort of an exorcism at that church".
He also questioned how many people had received communion at the altar of the parish church since its violation, or had been confirmed, buried or married from it.
He urged the bishop of the diocese to launch an investigation to determine whether the man in religious vestments is actually a priest.
The diocese concerned declined to give an indication as to whether the church has been re-consecrated.
Mass times have been scheduled for a number of days in the parish, including two for yesterday.
