Speaking to the Irish
Independent, the senior cleric said this meant that "anybody who
doesn't show love towards gay and lesbian people is insulting God. They
are not just homophobic if they do that – they are actually Godophobic
because God loves every one of those people".
Referring
to the revelations made last week by TD Jerry Buttimer, that he was
beaten, spat at, mocked and harassed because he was gay, Dr Martin
expressed concern saying: "Certainly the sort of actions that we heard
of this week of people being spat at because they were gay or ridiculed .
. . that is not a Christian attitude. We have to have the courage to
stand up and say that."
He added: "We all belong to one another and there is no way we can build up a society in which people are excluded or insulted.
"We have to learn a new way in Ireland to live with our differences and for all of us to live with respect for one another."
Concerns have been raised that debate could be stifled ahead of
the upcoming referendum on gay marriage, after the national broadcaster
paid compensation and apologised to officials from the Catholic advocacy
group The Iona Institute over comments on homophobia made on 'The
Saturday Night Show' by gay rights activist Rory O'Neill, who performs
under the drag name Miss Panti Bliss.
Dr Martin called for the
debate around marriage equality to be carried out "in a serene and sober
way in which people can express themselves and differences can emerge".
Dr
Martin also noted: "Just because a person isn't in favour of gay
marriage doesn't mean that one is homophobic – let's be very clear on
that."
But he added that "all of us have to be careful about the way we speak and the language we use".
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