Church to probe suspended priest’s claims

SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland

Gerry Braiden
Senior reporter

Tuesday 19 November 2013

AN investigation into a parish priest suspended for his memoirs alleging a culture of homosexual bullying within the church will also deal with his accusations.

Father Matthew Despard was suspended amid dramatic scenes at the weekend after a penal judicial process was launched, a full eight months after his book Priesthood In Crisis was put on sale.

However, church sources have said that, as well as investigating Father Despard’s conduct in releasing the book and its impact on serving clergy, any probe would have to examine what is alleged within it.

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