By Neil Macfarlane
Northern Echo
December 6, 2008
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3955512.New_bishop_may_hold_key_to_ suspended_priest___s_fate/
FRIENDS of a priest who was suspended by the Catholic Church four years ago hope a change in church leadership may lead to his reinstatement.
Father Michael Higginbottom has not taken a service at St Augustine's Church, Darlington, since December 2004, even though he is still officially listed as the parish priest.
Parishioners have never been told why he was removed from duty or when he will return.
A new bishop for the region has yet to be appointed following the death of the Right Reverend Kevin Dunn in March, and members at St Augustine's hope the new man will bring Fr Higginbottom back.
Stephen Hughes, the MEP for the North-East and a member at the church, said last night: "The situation is dreadful.
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| Father Michael Higginbottom |
"Month after month in the European Parliament we debate human rights issues, and I have never come across a worse case of injustice being allowed to drag on like this.
"Absolutely nothing has changed since he was first suspended. All the parishioners are deeply disappointed this is still unresolved, and we are being told nothing."
Although the church has never commented on the case, The Northern Echo understands that Fr Higginbottom's was suspended because of information the church received relating to his time as a teacher at a religious college near Wigan three decades ago.
The complaint is not thought to be of a sexual or violent nature, and no police charges have ever been brought against him.
Since he was banned from returning to the pulpit, Fr Higginbottom spent time at the Ministeracres monastic retreat, near Consett, before he moved in with relatives in Newcastle.
One church member said yesterday: "Father Higginbottom is such a nice man.
"If he had been arrested and taken through the courts, he could have been acquitted, and we could go back to normal.
That did not happen, so we are all left in limbo.
"Our only hope is that when the new bishop is appointed, things might change."
Mr Hughes said: "Unless the bishop is replaced, there is nobody to make a decision about Fr Higginbottom's fate.
"I do not mean to speak ill of the dead, but Bishop Dunn let this situation drift and drift. It is time this was resolved."
Other parishioners are not so hopeful that a new bishop could change the situation.
One said: "It might even be that this goes beyond the church here and all the way to the Vatican."
A spokesman for the Catholic church, asked if the new bishop would make a decision on Fr Higginbottom's future, said: "We would have to wait until the bishop is installed and that would be looked at then. I can understand why people would think that.
"Getting information is not easy. These administrative issues are difficult without a bishop in post.
"The appointment of a new bishop is down to Rome. It is never a quick process – 12 months is the minimum.
"It is dictated by Rome, but obviously they take account of the local situation."
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