# 199. Fr Bernárd Lynch: Priest, Author & Activist

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/199-fr-bern-rd-lynch-priest-author-activist
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/199-fr-bern-rd-lynch-priest-author-activist.md
Podcast: [The Ireland Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574)
Published: 2025-11-12T05:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-ireland-podcast/episodes/199-fr-bernard-lynch-priest-author-activist
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64e340adddadb00012365278/e/6913c50ddac02c1fcfcb7ba0/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/episodes/199-fr-bern-rd-lynch-priest-author-activist
Duration seconds: 3954

## Resource

Born in Ennis, County Clare, Fr. Bernárd’s journey began in the traditional Ireland of the 1940s, shaped by school, family, and faith. But his path soon led him far from the familiar - from the seminary in Dromantine, Newry, to ordination in Newry Cathedral, and then on to the missionaries in Africa and the turbulent streets of New York in the 1970s, where he found both his calling and his true self. In a conversation with Fender Jackson, they talk about forgiveness, angels, and the arrogance of certainty. Fr. Bernárd explores his belief that Catholicism is the last pagan religion in the West, and his sharp critique of Bible bingo interpretations of Leviticus. Fr. Bernárd speaks candidly about discovering he was gay, ministering to the AIDS community at the height of the crisis, and facing the crushing pressures of faith, sexuality, and truth - including false allegations, expulsion from New York, and eventually becoming the first Catholic priest in the world to have a same-sex marriage. It’s a story of defiance, compassion, and perhaps, time travel - an extraordinary conversation with one of Ireland’s most fearless and fascinating priests. Links https://www.frbernardlynch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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