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Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Patrick Craine / LifeSiteNews

IRELAND, June 26, 2018, (LifeSiteNews) – The Archbishop of Dublin has issued a stern public rebuke of the Irish Culture Minister, who coordinated the government’s campaign to legalize abortion, for taking over the sanctuary when her parish priest was a no-show for Mass last weekend.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin “has launched an astonishing attack on Culture Minister Josepha Madigan, accusing her of being ‘deeply disrespectful’ to her parishioners,” according to a report in Ireland’s Independent.

Madigan coordinated Fine Gael's “Yes” campaign in the lead-up to the recent referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment. Madigan described the previous ban on abortion as “barbaric,” according to an Irish Herald report.  She also “questioned people who felt it wasn't possible to be a member of the Catholic Church and back repeal.”

After she conducted what amounted to an impromptu communion service, Madigan went on the record asserting that no priest showed up to say Mass because there are too few priests in Ireland.  

The Archbishop said Madigan had upset her fellow parishioners by trying to push her “particular agenda,” according to the Independent report, which continued:

“Many have contacted my offices to express their hurt and upset at the Minister’s comments, as reported in the media,” Mr Martin said.

He added that there are “no shortage of priests” in the Archdiocese, explaining that the situation on Saturday evening arose “due to a misunderstanding”.

“It is in no way correct to say that the Minister ‘said Mass’. It is regrettable that that Minister Madigan used this occasion to push a particular agenda.

“Her expressed view that a mix-up in a Dublin parish on one particular Saturday evening should lead to the Universal Church changing core teachings is bizarre,” Dr Martin’s statement said.

And he added that she should “consider the hurt she has caused to parishioners who deem her actions deeply disrespectful.”