A leading Irish priest has warned that so-called ‘polite persecution’ is forcing many religious believers to keep their views to themselves because they are considered “culturally impolite” in contemporary Ireland.

Belfast-based priest Fr Tim Bartlett, who was responsible for organising the 2018 visit to Ireland by Pope Francis, was celebrating Mass for persecuted Christians on RTÉ One on Sunday morning organised by Aid to the Church in Need Ireland.

Fr Bartlett warned that “respect for the right to religious freedom” is “the cornerstone of a genuinely diverse, pluralist and free society.

“Sadly, despite the welcome progress in respect for so many other areas of human rights in the world today, research shows that respect for the right to religious freedom is under increasing threat, even in countries which pride themselves as being exemplars of respect for tolerance and diversity,” he said.

Fr Bartlett warned that many Irish believers experience “so-called ‘polite persecution’, where any public display or conversation about religious conviction is considered politically and culturally impolite.