Pray for Saddam; PARISH PRIEST TELLS STUNNED MASS-GOERS:.
Byline: By CRONAN SCANLONA PRIEST has shocked mass-goers by praying for executed dictator Saddam Hussein.
Days after being sent to the gallows, the Iraqi leader was included among the parish list of the dead in a Donegal church.
He was remembered by Fr Hugh Sweeney, parish priest of Kilteevogue in Cloghan, Co Donegal.
Described as a "bit of a character", Fr Sweeney stunned parishioners when he was praying for local people who had recently passed away.
The last name he read out was that of the former dictator.
One parishioner, who did not want to be named, said no one seemed bothered that Fr Sweeney prayed for the executed leader.
He added: "He was praying for all the local people and then he prayed for him.
"Even though he prays for everyone, I didn't think he would pray for the likes of him after all the bad things that he done.
"But he is a priest at the end of the day and he can pray for anyone he likes."
Fr Sweeney, who was ordained in 1972, has been the parish priest of Kilteevogue since 1992.
He could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
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HANGED: Saddam
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| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
|---|---|
| Date: | Jan 23, 2007 |
| Words: | 199 |
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