SCOTLAND
Motherwell Times
A priest from Motherwell who’s at the centre of a row over a book alleging sexual misconduct has quit his parish role.
Fr Matthew Despard was accused by Bishop Joseph Toal of “causing considerable scandal” with his publication and offending many parishioners who could no longer attend mass because of him.
However, a support group set up for the priest branded the bishop’s comments “disgraceful” and claimed attendance at St John Ogilvie in Blantyre has fallen because of the way the Bishop of Motherwell has treated him.
Fr Despard had been suspended from his duties for three years after publishing Priesthood in Crisis. Last year the diocese won a court battle to have him evicted from the parish house and last month it emerged his elderly parents could lose their Motherwell home, which is in Fr Despard’s name, in legal action aimed at recovering costs from him.
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