SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Gerry Braiden
Senior reporter
THE priest behind a book alleging a culture of sexual bullying within the Catholic Church in Scotland is being threatened with legal action from another serving cleric.
Father Robert Kane, a priest in the Diocese of Motherwell, announced to his congregation his intention to pursue Father Matthew Despard through the courts.
It is understood he was given a standing ovation by parishioners.
Father Despard’s book claims sexual misconduct has been rife for decades in junior seminaries where teenagers train for the priesthood.
The self-published Priesthood In Crisis, which came in the wake of the sex scandal and allegations facing shamed Cardinal Keith O’Brien, was recently withdrawn by Amazon.
While he is not named in the book, it is understood Father Kane, who serves St Teresa of Lisieux in Newarthill, believes he is referred to several times. It is understood he denies any wrongdoing.
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