SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Gerry Braiden
Senior reporter
A CATHOLIC priest has been suspended from the church after police launched an investigation into historic sex abuse allegations.
Father Richard Rodgers, a priest in North Lanarkshire, was suspended from his parish after a complaint was made to the Diocese and then passed on to Police Scotland.
It is understood Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Toal arrived at St Mary’s Parish Church in Cleland and told parishioners of the move before stepping in to cover mass himself.
The congregation was also told cover from elsewhere in the Diocese would be put in place for parishioners in his absence.
The 79-year-old has been removed from active ministry for an “unspecified period of time” after the allegations came to light.
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