Evening Telegraph
February 21, 2008
http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2008/02/21/story10967041t0.shtm
The Bishop of Dunkeld today said he is "convinced" a senior Dundee priest had engaged in a relationship with a married woman (writes Graham Huband and Graeme Strachan).
Bishop Vincent Logan was responding to a public attack from his former right hand man, Monsignor Joe Creegan. The retired priest has accused him of a "gross breach of natural justice" by suspending him without carrying out a full and proper inquiry.
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| Mgr Creegan. |
The move came after the Diocese of Dunkeld issued a statement on January 27 saying the bishop had acted after being presented with "specific and irrefutable evidence" of Mgr Creegan's misconduct.
The bishop's statement said the priest had accepted the ruling.
Mgr Creegan, who was parish priest at St Peter and St Paul's, issued a statement yesterday saying the bishop had given weight to a "mixture of lies and half-truths".
He said he had no knowledge of the evidence that had prompted his suspension, had no opportunity to examine it and had made no admission of guilt.
Mgr Creegan said, "The statement conveyed an unbalanced picture and gave credence to the lurid articles and fantasies."
Today Bishop Logan released a statement through the Diocese of Dunkeld.
It said, "Bishop Logan remains convinced by the evidence that was presented to him that Mgr Creegan had a relationship with a married woman."
The row broke out after a Sunday newspaper alleged Mgr Creegan had stayed overnight at the home of a Fife divorcee.
The priest said his relationship with Anne Ogden was platonic — despite the fact they have a joint mortgage on a £300,000 property in Balmerino, Fife.
No action was taken against the priest at this stage.
However, Mgr Creegan was suspended following further newspaper revelations claiming he had had 18-year affair with a married woman.
The Tele attempted to contact Mgr Creegan at addresses in Dundee and Fife today and at the Inland Revenue call centre in Dundee where he recently began employment.
However, our efforts to seek clarification of the nature of his relationships were not successful as he was not contactable.
Meanwhile, it emerged today the Catholic Church in Scotland has no power to intervene in the dispute.
A spokesperson said individual diocese were autonomous structures with a bishop at their head.
He said under Canon Law — which governs the Catholic Church — the next step would be for either of the parties involved to request a hearing in front of Vatican officials.
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