SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Gerry Braiden
Senior reporter
Friday 9 May 2014
HE offered an olive branch but the strange case of Scotland’s “whistleblowing rebel priest” is not going away any time soon.
After a year of standing by his allegations of powerful gay cliques within the clergy and resisting moves by the Catholic hierarchy against him, Father Matthew Despard made reconciliatory overtures last weekend.
According to his lawyer, Father Despard now seeks a “brotherly” way out of the legal actions racking up against him, talking of “respect and honour” and “resolving breaches in relations”.
Given the likely eviction from his parish house and the potential of being returned to civilian life, perhaps that is understandable for a guy approaching 50 with no obvious career to fall back on.
Proceedings under church law against him for publication of his memoirs, Priesthood In Crisis, must be completed and talk of civil action by several of those mentioned in the book continues.
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