Catholic Church in Scotland Reveal 27 Priests Have Been Reported for Sex Abuse Allegations

The Daily Record
November 26, 2013

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/catholic-church-scotland-reveal-27-2851687

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia

THE Bishops' Conference of Scotland revealed 46 allegations of abuse between 2006 and 2012 - with more than half involving sex abuse claims.

ABUSE allegations have been made against 27 Scots priests in a six-year period, a report revealed yesterday.

Figures released by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, who represent the Catholic Church in Scotland, showed 46 allegations of abuse between 2006 and 2012. More than half involved sex abuse claims.

Just over half of the accusations were made against priests, with the rest linked to volunteers, parishioners or other church staff.

Just seven – 15 per cent – have resulted in prosecution.

Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia, president of the Bishops’ Conference, said 2013 had been “a test of faith” for Catholics.

He added: “We recognise the trauma and pain that survivors of abuse have suffered and we are committed to providing for them both justice and healing.”

The Church announced a further audit of historic abuse allegations between 1947 and 2005.

And former Church of Scotland moderator, the Very Reverend Dr Andrew McLellan, will review how the Catholic Church in Scotland deal with abuse after scandals about priests’ inappropriate conduct.

Earlier this year, serving priest Father Matthew Despard accused the Catholic Church in Scotland of covering up a culture of sexual bullying by a powerful gay mafia. He has since been suspended.

It emerged in August that the Bishops’ Conference had commissioned an independent look at historic abuse allegations in 2011 but it was halted by the then-president, Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

He resigned in February after admitting inappropriate sexual conduct.