Father Ray Kelly has said that priests should be allowed to get married, but he doesn’t think it will happen in his lifetime.
The country’s favourite cleric was speaking after surviving another week of eliminations on the Dancing with the Stars talent show.
He said: “The option should be there for priests to marry. But I personally feel Rome moves very slowly and that’s their prerogative. I don’t think I’ll see it in my lifetime.
“For the likes of me, most of us have taken a vow of celibacy and that’s fine.
“But because of the introduction of women priests in the Anglican Church, the ministers had been married and they didn’t want women priests and they were accepted into the Catholic Church now, so we do have them.”
Father Kelly has become somewhat of a celebrity since a video of him singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah to a happy couple on their wedding day become a viral hit.
He capitalised on this success by auditioning on Britain’s Got Talent and impressed Simon Cowell and the other judges enough to make it all the way to finals week.
He even got a tweet of approval from US rock legends REM after he sang their megahit Everybody Hurts on the show.
The Co Meath priest is now strutting his stuff on the dancefloor on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars.
After a shaky start, he feels he is now getting to grips with the routines. He said: “The judges are warming towards me now.
“OK my dancing isn’t 100% up to scratch but I’m not a 37-year-old, my body doesn’t move as fast as their’s.
“If Jesus could turn water into wine I’m sure he could dance.
“I’m doing the quick step this week and the group dance. When I heard initially I’d be doing two dances I was thinking, ‘How is this poor body going to take two dances?
“I think when we’re dancing as a group we’re all in it together and it’s fun.”
Father Kelly has also had to face some criticism from people who feel it is inappropriate for a priest to dance around with a young woman.
However, despite being initially hurt by the comments, he has remained on the show and is determined to do the best that he can.
He added: “I love dancing with Kylie every week and having a woman in my life but we’re both very professional, she has her husband and Kylie respects my role as a priest.
“I danced with my mother years ago, my sisters, I’ve danced with hundreds of brides, bridesmaids at weddings, I’m used to dancing with women. Last week it was hot hot hot. Kylie is always prepared to taper down moves that are inappropriate.
“She’s never come up with a move I’ve said no to, she respects my position.”
