Comedian Tommy Tiernan's performance on last Friday's Late Late Show bordered "on blasphemy", a spokesman for Ireland's Catholic bishops has said. "It is time for those responsible to be made accountable," he said.
Meanwhile a priest has said that "naked anti-Catholicism" is motivating change in Ireland.
Redemptorist Father Gerard Moloney said: "One can't help feeling that many of those who are pushing the secular agenda are motivated as much by naked anti-Catholicism as by a desire for a secular Ireland." He said "the virulent anti-Catholicism of so much media commentary today indicates as much".
Mr Martin Long, spokesman for the Irish Bishops' Conference, commenting on last week's Late Late Show, said last night: "This is a family show and, as RTÉ is a public service broadcaster, one would expect there to be respect for the sincerely-held convictions of the audience.
"When the price for cheap publicity borders on blasphemy, it is time for those responsible to be held accountable," he added, referring to senior management at RTÉ.
His objection to the item centred on extensive use of bad language by Mr Tiernan, the comedian's general disrespect towards the belief of others, and his dismissive and denigratory attitude towards religious figures, "none of which was challenged by the presenter". There was no comment from RTÉ last night.
Writing in the current issue of Reality magazine, Father Moloney said many "may be sincere in wanting to build a progressive, secular, liberal state", but also felt it was "all the better if that means destroying the Roman Catholic Church in the process".
He referred to a "quite extraordinary" comment by broadcaster Olivia O'Leary on RTÉ Radio's Five-Seven Live programme when Ms O'Leary said she wished Mrs McAleese would refrain from saying things such as 'God willing' or 'with God's help' in public statements."
