Gay Byrne was not expecting the answer he received from Stephen Fry when asked what he would say to God on the recent episode of ‘The Meaning of Life’

RTE SHOW ‘The Meaning of Life’ with Gay Byrne is usually an inoffensive programme, but recent guest Stephen Fry created a whirlwind of controversy after he spoke at length about his views on God.

The English TV star and writer described God as “as utterly evil, capricious, monstrous and a maniac” in a shocking interview.

“Suppose it’s all true,” Byrne asked, “and you walk up to the pearly gates and you are confronted by God. What will Stephen Fry say to Him, Her or It?”

Fry began his reply with: “Bone cancer in children? What’s that about? How dare you.”

He continued: “How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault. It’s not right. It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain?”

A clip of the interview went viral, reaching over four million views on YouTube, and attracting a strong reaction worldwide – with people both agreeing and disagreeing with his opinions.

Among those who viewed it with interest was Enniscorthy curate Fr. Billy Swan, who was “surprised” by the comedian’s remarks.

Enniscorthy’s Fr. Billy Swan, a fan of Stephen Fry’s work in the past, was disappointed in his recent interview.

Speaking to The Echo, Fr. Swan said he has always been a fan of Fry, particularly in his classical comedy appearances in ‘Black Adder’ and later with his colleague Hugh Laurie in ‘Laurie and Fry’.

He commented: “The interview with Gay Byrne confirmed that Stephen Fry is seriously talented and not just as an actor. He presented himself as very articulate and intelligent in a remarkably frank and honest interview.

“In the reviews of what he said, the majority of comment in the press and on social media has been on his views regarding the existence of God and the nature of God.”

He continued: “His views certainly provoked a reaction in those of us who agree with him and in those who don’t. Whatever we think, what he shared makes it very difficult for us to ignore. As a Christian believer, I think there are lessons to be learned from Fry’s critique of faith. On the other hand, some of his views seriously misrepresent what Christians really believe and need to be challenged.”

Full story in this week’s Echo.