St Andrew’s Church on Westland Row in Dublin has cancelled a concert by the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus on the grounds it believes the recital “is not compatible with our mission as a Roman Catholic Parish”.

The church informed the Choir on Tuesday that the booking has been cancelled as it had “learned that in form and content it is being presented not as a simple choral recital but as a Pride Festival event”.

The group, which is Ireland’s only all-male gay choir, said it booked the Catholic church for the June 23 event over the phone. It received email confirmation of the booking on April 10.

The event was titled 'Pride in the Name of Love', a nod to the U2 song and was described as "celebration of love, solidarity, and community".

The Priest of St. Andrew's wrote to the choir to cancel the event with less than two weeks notice saying:

“I am writing to advise you that the parish is not in a position to make the church available for the concert that was planned to be held on Sunday, June 23rd,” the priest wrote. “The parish is happy to welcome groups from all backgrounds to perform concerts in the church as you know from your concerts here as a musical director on many occasions.

“However, the parish is disappointed that the nature of this event was not made clear at the time of booking.

“We have learned that in form and content it is being presented not as a simple choral recital but as a Pride Festival event in a context which is not compatible with our mission as a Roman Catholic parish church.

“In the circumstances the parish is unable to facilitate the performance".

In response to the news, the Chairperson of Dublin's Gay Men's Choir Patrick McNamara released a statement saying: "We are deeply disappointed by the Decision of St. Andrew's Church to cancel the concert on June 23. It has been particularly disappointing because the church aid that the event was incompatible with their mission".

Continuing the statement said: "The decision is deeply hurtful considering Pope Francis' recent use of a homophobic slur against the gay community".

 

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The chairperson concluded saying that: "We will not be deterred from spreading the choir's positive, inclusive message".