Catholic church launches review over Grindr sex-scandal claims
Catholic church authorities have ordered a review of social media access for priests after allegations of Grindr use.
An Irish seminary has been asked to review its social media policy after allegations emerged of a ‘gay culture’ between trainee priests.
The review comes after alleged ‘homosexual activity’ at the Irish national seminary, St Patrick’s college at Maynooth in Co Kildare.
Trustees of the college said they were concerned about an “unhealthy atmosphere created by anonymous accusations”.
They also highlighted “some social media comments which can be speculative or even malicious” about its trainee priests.
However, the trustees added that the students should pay attention to the Pope’s recent recommendation that “spending time with women and families can benefit their studies”.
They have also asked the seminary authorities “to evaluate and review the policy regarding the appropriate use of the internet and social media”.
Earlier this month, Dr Diarmuid Martin revealed his plans to boycott St. Patrick’s College over the allegations of homosexual activity among students and staff – including the use of Grindr.
The archbishop said the “poisonous” atmosphere caused by the claims had led him to transfer students to the Irish College in Rome.
The allegations were made anonymously, accusing priests of sexual activity, the use of a gay dating app Grindr and other misconduct at the County Kildare college.
Dr Martin said the use of the app “would be inappropriate for seminarians, not just because they are trained to be celibate priests, but because an app like that is something which would be fostering promiscuous sexuality.
Grindr goes against “the mature vision of sexuality one would expect a priest to understand,” he added.
In May, a priest who taught at a Catholic school was forced to take a “leave of absence” after he was caught sending naked pics on Grindr.
