A priest who wrote a book accusing the Catholic Church in Scotland of being run by a “powerful gay mafia” says he has been bullied by church hierarchy. Father Matthew Despard was suspended from parish duties in 2013 after making the claims in a self-published book. His appeal against his suspension was taken to the Roman Rota in Italy in 2016 – an internal Catholic court system. Father Despard said: “I feel vindicated by some of the things that have come to light about historic practices within the Catholic Church in Scotland. In my case, I fear the Catholic Church are waiting for me to die to end the stalemate.

Source: The Guardian February 14, 2024 19:26 UTC