Irish priest denounces plans to show horror films at a former Catholic church

An Irish priest has denounced plans by the Belfast Film Festival to screen two horror films at a former Catholic church in the city.

The Belfast Film Festival has scheduled the screenings of "The Omen" and "The Exorcist" in the former Holy Rosary Church on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast next month, the BBC reported.

Father Patrick McCafferty described the planned screenings as a "cheap stunt" and accused the organizers of the festival of insensitivity.

The priest had admitted that he had never seen either of the films but maintained that he "knew enough about them" to be aware of their content.

"You wonder what the motives of the people at the film festival is and why they would choose a church in which to air these films. There's a basic lack of sensitivity towards people who would have memories of everything from baptisms to weddings and funerals from inside that building," the priest told Irish Central.

A spokesman for the festival defended the decision to show the film at the church, saying it would add to the "eerie atmosphere" for the audience.

"The locations chosen add an extra dimension to the screening and we think the stone-cold surroundings of an abandoned church will make for a suitably chilling viewing experience for 'The Exorcist,'" the spokesman said.

The former church has been used as a place of worship for nearly 40 years, but it has since fallen into disrepair.

The church opened in 1898 to cater to the growing Catholic population in the area, but it had been deemed too small by 1980, and the parishioners moved across the road to the larger Good Shepherd Church.

The building, which is no longer owned by the Catholic Church, has been recently acquired by Tullymore House Ltd., which is planning to redevelop the former church as an Italian restaurant.

The Ballymena-based firm said it granted the permission to screen the horror films "as a reflection of our continued support of the arts community in Northern Ireland."

McCafferty said he has no objections to the plans of turning the former church into a restaurant, but he insisted that the "screening of horror films in there is another matter entirely."

He said that the festival organizers should reconsider their plans and move the event to a "more appropriate venue."

The BBC reported on July 6 that about 100 tickets have already been sold for the 180-seat screening for "The Exorcist."