Bishop learnt of priest’s gay past via TV report

By Justine Mccarthy
Sunday Times (UK)
October 18, 2014

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1472988.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2014_10_18

JOHN FLEMING, the bishop of Killala, was unaware that one of his priests was suing an ex-boyfriend over a house they shared until he heard the court case reported on the news last Thursday evening.

Fr Gabriel Rosbotham, a curate in Ballina, is on leave “to reflect on his ministry” following a meeting with Fleming this weekend.

A letter on the matter from the bishop is being read by priests at all masses in Killala diocese this morning. Fleming will read it himself at mass in Kilmoremoy church, where Rosbotham is the curate.

Judge Keenan Johnson ruled in the Circuit Court last Friday that Rosbotham should get 27% of the proceeds of any sale of Rose Cottage, a house in Co Donegal’s Bluestack mountains that he shared with Hugh Crawford, a former Franciscan. Rosbotham had sued Crawford for a 50% share of the property.