The Association of Catholic Priests has issued a statement over Conor McGregor's White House meeting with Donald Trump, in which they said his views on migrants are "contrary to our understanding of the message of Jesus".
The group said he does not speak for Irish people or Catholics, and that he "confuses personal opinions with truth".
A statement read: "As people who value both our Irishness and our Faith, we wish to state clearly that Mr. Conor McGregor’s speech in the Oval Office, where he purported to be speaking on behalf of the Irish people, was not representing what we value and hold dear. We believe that he confuses personal opinions with truth.
"The sentiments expressed by Mr McGregor in his speech in the White House in respect of migrants and refugees, are contrary to our understanding of the message of Jesus."
They also said McGregor's views "are in stark contrast to those of the recently appointed Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, Robert McElroy", when he said: “Our truth is the person of Jesus Christ. The task of a Christian is to notice that Jesus’ first instinct is not to judge or condemn but to embrace people, to help them with whatever issue they’re dealing with, and to address the different elements of woundedness or exclusion they have in their lives.”
The statement concluded: "The reasons for inviting Mr McGregor to the White House on our national holiday are to be questioned. We wish it to be known that he did not represent us."
The UFC fighter has mentioned his Catholic faith in the past.
McGregor's St Patrick's Day meeting at the Oval Office has been widely condemned by government and opposition politicians.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris said McGregor does not represent Irish people, and that he has no mandate to speak for the public.
In a strongly-worded statement on his Instagram account, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar referred to the case in which a jury found McGregor civilly liable in a case taken by a woman who accused him of rape.
Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín, won her claim against McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial last year in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.
A judge at the High Court in Dublin later said the jury had “conclusively determined” that McGregor had raped Ms Hand. McGregor is appealing against the outcome.
Mr Varadkar wrote: "Good Irish dads teach their sons to detest men like Conor and their daughters to avoid men like him. Irish America know this.”
