A SERVING priest has accused the Catholic Church in Scotland of
covering up a culture of sexual bullying by a powerful gay mafia.
Father Matthew Despard, 48, says sexual misconduct has been rife in junior seminaries, where priests are trained, for decades. And he claims that when he alerted Church authorities to inappropriate sexual conduct, nothing was done. Fr
Despard, the parish priest of St John Ogilvie church in High Blantyre,
Lanarkshire, says he fears for the future of his Church if no action is
taken to end the scandal.
He has taken the difficult decision to publish a book on his experiences, Priesthood in Crisis....
In the bombshell book, Fr Despard writes: “My concern is
that if we don’t face up to what is happening in reality, the Church
will suffer enormous damage. “The accusations I have been making may appear intolerable to some and truly I have trouble making them....“The Catholic Church here in Scotland, and I am
ashamed to admit this, has justified itself to Catholic papers by
telling lie after lie, denying charges that are true, and claiming they
have been defamed when the facts reported in the press are quite simply
true."
UPDATE: Fr. Despard's book is true; please link here.
UPDATE: Fr. Despard's book is true; please link here.
I wouldn't listen to what this man says! Around 50% of it will be true, the man is a liar amd basically wants to be famous. He should be ashamed of him self,
ReplyDeleteEven if only 50 % is true the picture presented is a matter of the greatest concern. No one who does not know the situation or the man can describe him as liar: to do so, without any evidence, is the opposite of Christian charity and the allegation ought to be withdrawn if the writer is to retain any credibility.
ReplyDeleteI am a Scot growing more and more ashamed of those whom I should respect.
J Martin