Scottish priest who made ‘gay mafia’ claim says he has been ‘bullied and silenced’
February 13, 2024
» Continue to this story on BBC
CWN Editor's Note: Father Matthew Despard, suspended in 2013 and ordered to leave his parish in 2016, said he has been “bullied and silenced by the Church.”
In 2013, Father Despard wrote a book discussing a “powerful gay mafia” at work within the Church in Scotland. The book appeared shortly after Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Edinburgh resigned because of homosexual misconduct.
Father Despard said that the Roman Rota ruled in 2016 that he could return to parish duties if he withdrew the book from circulation—which he says he has done. The priest said that Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell has imposed the additional condition of an apology, which the priest has declined to make.
“I have privately asked Bishop Toal again and again to return to a parish but have been ignored,” he said. “It’s unjust, I’m still waiting here. I have no avenues left but to speak out publicly. I feel I have been systematically bullied and silenced by the Church.”
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Posted by: feedback -
Feb. 13, 2024 9:20 AM ET USA
I'm surprised that this story is run by BBC. May God bless and give strength to Father Despard! I think the Church will need to look into the validity of Holy Orders granted and received in exchange for gay sex. That is what McCarrick did when he slept with seminarians whom he later ordained to priesthood. Just like Confessions between partners in sin against the sixth commandment are invalid and incur automatic excommunication, so it could be the case with gay ordinations, even retrospectively.
