A Catholic monk has pleaded guilty to harassing a pair of lesbian witches and telling them “we used to burn people like you” during a quarrel over homosexuality.
Damon Kelly, of Northamptonshire, is a part of a three-strong Catholic group named the Black Hermits. The trio preach and distribute leaflets campaigning against things they regard as sins.
The 53-year-old member quarreled with the women after posting an anti-homosexuality leaflet through their door on October 14 last year.
As soon as the lesbian couple from Leicester received the leaflet, one of them ran after Kelly to return it.
According to Leicester Magistrates’ Court prosecutor Nigel Chapman, Kelly, who was dressed in a black robe, told the woman to “keep it, urinate on it, defecate on it.”
Two weeks later, the monk returned to their home and posted another letter describing homosexuality as “being part of the devil’s madness.”
One of the woman claims she suffered heart palpitations while reading the letter, the court heard.
But Chapman claims Kelly was only “doing God’s work” despite aggressively telling the women “you know we used to burn people like you.”
The woman felt like “she was being targeted” by the Black Hermit member.
However, Kevin Sayce, defending Kelly said his client “never aimed” to confront the women. He initially “picks areas and delivers leaflets.”
After the women revealed they were witches, Kelly returned to their home “not to seek out a confrontation but to post the letter that put forward his beliefs on pursing such desires and act.”
Sayce claims Kelly’s main motive is to “target the sin and not the sinner.”
After the incident was brought to light, Kelly and the Black Hermits were asked to leave the diocese by the local bishop.
According to ChurchMilitant, the leaflets contained messages claiming homosexuality is “essentially a neurosis, a pathological condition and the result of several factors including childhood experiences,” adding it is “a dangerous temptation rather than a healthy orientation.”
District Judge Tim Daber ordered the case to be adjourned for three weeks to assess whether the defendant was fit for unpaid work.
The offender was released on bail on the condition he would not deliver any more leaflets.