A Renua Ireland election candidate for Cavan/Monaghan has stepped down after allegedly calling the Vatican the 'Antichrist'.
Mary Smyth, a counseling psychologist, is said to have made the comments on the Facebook page 'Irish anti-abortion crusade'.
The Sunday Times claims Ms Smyth was annoyed by Pope Francis' decision to allow St Peter's Basilica in Rome to be used for a light show to coincide with the Paris climate change conference.
She reportedly went on to say we 'cannot trust this present Pope' and claimed the Vatican was 'corrupt, riddled with gay sex and adoration of wealth'.
Lucinda Creighton says that she and Renua "do not and will not tolerate the holding or expressing of views that are considered to be offensive or hurtful by the gay community".
Mary Smyth was set to run for office for the first time in the upcoming election.
"Vigorous defence of our 8th Amendment", improved mental health services and more recreational facilities for youth to help counteract "the scourge of drug and alcohol abuse" are listed as her three political priorities on Ms Smyth's WhichCandidate profile.
