Despite being suspended from parish duties in 2013 for his claims, Father Despard remains resolute, stating he won't apologise for speaking the truth.

Father Despard's book ‘Priesthood in Crisis' led to his suspension from St John Ogilve's parish in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

A Vatican court ruling in 2016 cleared the way for a possible return. However, the church says he will not be allowed to return until he makes a public apology.

Father Despard said the last 10 years had been "incredibly hard".

"I have privately asked Bishop Toal again and again to return to a parish but have been ignored" he said.

"It's unjust, I'm still waiting here. I have no avenues left but to speak out publicly. I feel I have been systematically bullied and silenced by the church."

Despite being barred from certain religious duties, he remains employed by the church.

The Vatican's ruling cleared the way for his return, but the final decision lies with Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell.

In response to the Vatican's criteria for his return, which includes withdrawing the book and issuing a public apology, Father Despard asserts he has fulfilled both requirements.

However, Bishop Toal insists on a public apology. Father Despard refuses to meet the demand, stating, "I'm not sorry for telling the truth."

Support from parishioners

Father Despard's case has gained attention amid wider controversies within the Scottish Catholic Church, notably surrounding Cardinal Keith O'Brien who faced allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1980s.

Brian Devlin, one of the accusers, highlighted a culture of silence within the church.

Fr Despard still enjoys support within his former parish.

Retired NHS clerical worker Helen Duddy is a member of a support group in his former parish which is trying to have Father Despard reinstated to church duties.

"He was fantastic for the parish. It's very sad" Duddy said.

The Diocese of Motherwell maintains that Father Despard's return to public ministry hinges on his willingness to apologise to those affected by his book and his gay mafia comment. However Father Despard stands firm, alleging systematic bullying and refusing to apologise for speaking out.

Sources

BBC

Daily Mail

A Church tribunal found that Fr Matthew Despard of St John Ogilvie in Lanarkshire had injured the reputation of the Church as well as clergy and lay people.

Already under suspension, he will be removed from his parish and will have to spend three months in penance.

The priest made the claims in a book he self-published in the Internet titled "Priesthood in Crisis".

Fr Despard claimed that sexual misconduct had been widespread in junior seminaries for decades.

He also said he had alerted Church authorities, but that nothing had been done.

In a letter to Fr Despard, the Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Toal, said: "The judges determined that of the 21 of the 26 charges brought against Fr Despard, five were not proven."

"In the majority of cases, the tribunal ruled that Fr Despard had injured the good reputation of a number of people, both lay and clergy."

Fr Despard did not take part in the tribunal, but was represented by a lawyer.

The bishop added: "The bishop regrets that a penal case had to be pursued against Fr Despard, but felt it necessary in order to vindicate the reputation of those wrongly accused by him."

Fr Despard will reportedly appeal against the tribunal's ruling.

When he was suspended, his parishioners launched a petition in protest.

Parishioners also boycotted a Mass celebrated by the diocese's apostolic administrator at St John Ogilvie.

Priesthood in Crisis, which appeared just after Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigned over sexual misconduct, was originally made available through Amazon.

It was withdrawn from sale by Amazon in the United Kingdom (although it remains available in the US) because of lawsuits threatened by individuals who were named in the book.

Sources

• Herald Scotland
• Catholic World News
• Catholic World News
• Image: Sunday Post