Sex scene in the video
Drum 'n' bass DJ Wilkinson
The altar at the Good Shepherd church
An historical Belfast church has been ‘desecrated’ after actors were filmed having sex on the blessed altar for a scene in a seedy music video.
The Sunday World can reveal clergy at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church on the Ormeau Road were alerted to the obscene footage by a member of their congregation after the video went viral.
Resident priests looked on in horror as they viewed the music movie on the internet. It was promotional video for a song released by world-renowned DJ Mark Wilkinson, and featured a couple acting out sexual intercourse on the altar where religious sermons are delivered and Holy Communion is prepared.
The movie, which lasted over six minutes, was shot in Belfast early this year and featured several sex scenes, including a couple appearing to have sex in a nightclub cupboard.
However it was the sex scenes that were shot in the sanctity of the Good Shepherd chapel that caused great hurt and distress.
But parishioners and the clergy’s worst fears were confirmed as the camera panned away from the writhing couple capturing Holy relics and pictures that hang from Good Shepherd’s walls.
Those involved in shooting the footage had no permission to be on the religious premises – violating the parish church in the most dishonourable and sickening way imaginable.
They debased the house of worship with no thought to the priests and nuns who have dedicated their lives to the Catholic Church and its substantial and devout congregation.
The Sunday World can reveal the disgusted and heartbroken priests immediately contacted their lawyers who approached Wilkinson’s record label Ram Records demanding the offending material be removed and destroyed.
Speaking to the Sunday World last night chief media officer for the Down and Conor Diocese Edward McGee confirmed the incident had taken place and spoke of the Church’s sense of hurt, anger and disgust.
“No permission was either sought or granted to film the interior of the parish church within the context of any conduct or activities that were not relating to prayer or homage and in accordance with the sanctity of the Church.
“The behaviour in the video was a desecration of the Church and caused most grievous distress to the parish priest and if viewed by the parishioners would cause severe hurt and distress to the wider parish community.
“For these reasons, to protect the Church and its parishioners, the Diocese of Down and Conor immediately brought these concerns to the attention of the distributors and creators of the material which was unlawfully obtained by deception and trespass.
“The originators / creators and distributors gave us an undertaking that the unlawful material would be removed from circulation and destroyed,” Edward McGee told the Sunday World.
Last night the offensive images appeared to have been removed, much to the relief of Parish Priest Fr Fulton who will face his congregation this morning to offer words of comfort in the aftermath of their house of prayer being defiled in the name of ‘art’.
Fr Fulton
London-born world-renowned DJ and producer Wilkinson, now signed to Ram Records/Virgin EMI, is being touted as of the one of the brightest new stars in dance music. Following his club hits ‘Tonight’, ‘Take You Higher’, ‘Need To Know’ and ‘Heartbeat’, Wilkinson released ‘Afterglow’ which became a top 5 hit on the UK Chart, selling 300,000 copies with over 12 million Youtube views.
His album ‘Lazers Not Included’ went to number 1 on the iTunes Dance Chart and his tour schedule takes him across the globe from LA to Sydney. Summer 2014 see’s him perform at Glastonbury, Wireless, SW4, Reading, Leeds, T In The Park, Ibiza Rocks and a run of dates at Amnesia in Ibiza.
Having remixed and collaborated with the likes of Chase & Status, Naughty Boy, Wretch 32, Katy B, Example and Nero, he recently scooped ‘Best Single’, ‘Best Album’, ‘Best Video’ and ‘Best Producer’ at the 2014 Drum & Bass Awards.
The controversial movie was shot for the release of his new ‘Lazers Not Included 2.0’ will be released in August.
Yesterday, the Sunday World contacted Ram Records.
We explained the context and background to our story.
A spokesperson there said there was ‘no comment on this matter’.