Priest who claimed 'gay mafia' controls Catholic church seeks parish return

By John Ferguson
Daily Record
August 21, 2017

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/catholic-priest-behind-controversial-gay-11022967

Father Matthew Despard and his controversial book Photo by Trinity Mirro

A Catholic priest at the centre of gay mafia accusations is set to return to a Scottish parish.

Father Matthew Despard, 52, was forced to quit after being rapped by the church over explosive claims in his book Priesthood in Crisis.

He wrote that a “powerful gay mafia” was operating at the top of the Catholic hierarchy and was responsible for sexual ­bullying.

Despard was forced to stand down from his post at St John Ogilvie’s Parish in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.

But he could now return after a Vatican court “partly reversed” the decision of a Scottish church tribunal.

Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Toal said: “Fr Despard has requested he be allowed to return to public priestly ministry by being given a new pastoral assignment.”