The priest who refused to give communion to a Junior Minister and told him he was excommunicated has defended his actions.
Fr Gabriel Burke covered the chalice when Deputy Colm Burke attended communion during a funeral in Whitechurch on Friday.
His actions have been condemned by the Association of Catholic Priests who say the dismissal of a public representative at a funeral is particularly aggravating.
Minister Colm Burke told the Neil Prendeville show what happened when he went for communion:
"He gave me blessing. I advised that I was here to receive Holy Communion. He said 'You're not getting Holy Communion'. And I said, I'm here to receive Holy communion . He then leaned forward and advised that you've been excommunicated. So in front of the family, I decided that there was no point in having any further discussion there. Wasn't appropriate. So I moved off at that stage".
Meanwhile, Fr Gabriel Burke claims he was right to tell the Cork TD he was excommunicated:
"He voted for abortion. He excommunicated himself. There are two types of excommunication; those that are imposed, but then there are also excommunications that you incur by the act you have done. I had to put my phone away last night because I've just got so many people up and down the country supporting me".
