Hozier in his song “Take Me to Church,” (2013), tells how the LGBTQ+ community were treated by the Catholic Church throughout history. Although the song and accompanying music video mainly focus on Russia’s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community, it also addresses the Irish Catholic Church’s behavior. (Kenney).
As Hozier said during an interview to the media, ‘Growing up in Ireland, the church is always there…The video has the same theme — an organisation that undermines humanity.’ (Kenney).
It was on June 24, 1993 that homosexuality was decriminalized in Ireland in its Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. (Brent 2020). Yet, at the World Meeting of Families of 2018 held in Dublin, American priest Father James Martin explained how the church on a global scale needs to progress.
Martin explained to the audience, “A 30-year-old autistic man who came out to his family, and was not in any sort of relationship, told me that the pastoral association said that he could no longer receive communion in the Church, because even saying that he was gay was a scandal.”
Brent, Harry. “Ireland Marks 27 Years since Homosexuality Was Decriminalised.” The Irish Post, The Irish Post, 24 June 2020, www.irishpost.com/news/homosexuality-was-decriminalised-in-ireland-27-years-ago-today-187564.
Kenney, Els. “The Meaning Behind ‘Take Me To Church’.” Medium, Late Space, 4 Aug. 2020, medium.com/thelatespace/hoziers-take-me-to-church-b27663bc516f.