Update: just for the sake of people who've raised questions about the title we'd like to clarify. Without consulting the canon law, and not having any real accreditation in it, we understand that it's necessary for a suspended priest to submit himself for laicization of his own free will. We know of cases where clergy have refused to submit to it, but they are effectively inactive. In any case, he's been thrown out of his parish into the street and can't act as a priest. So, as far as we know, he hasn't been laicized yet, but regardless, whether he submits himself for it or not, he's not going to get a parish in this diocese, or legitimately offer Mass probably anywhere in the Church unless it's in private that he does so. At this point, we're just wondering if Father has been offered a stipend, or the opportunity to live in a monastery someplace, as sometimes happens. Naturally, we hope this courageous priest finds another diocese with a sympathetic bishop, or joins the Society of Saint Pius X. We hope he finds some way to continue through this.
Does the Saint Benedict Center still need a priest?
Edit: in tomorrow's news, Bishop rewrites bible so as not to offend victim classes. Who cares if some people were offended. Are the claims true or not? Does anyone have a copy of this book? Never mind, here it is...
Father Matthew Despard had already been suspended in 2013 because of his book. After unsuccessfully appealing it, he must now leave his parish. The book was removed again from the market after complaints.
Blantyre (kath.net/CWN/jg) Father Matthew Despard, priest of the parish of St. John Ogilvie in Blantyre (Scotland) must leave his parish on instructions from the competent bishop. Despard was suspended in 2013 after publishing a book on the great influence of aberrosexuals in the Church of Scotland.
Joseph Toal, the bishop of the Motherwell diocese, has justified Despard's suspension by insisting that his book damaged the reputation of a whole range of persons, both laymen and clerics. Despard has challenged the suspension, albeit unsuccessfully. While his proceedings were ongoing, he remained in the parish. After all the possibilities of appeal had been exhausted, Bishop Toal has now instructed him to leave the parish.
In his book "Priesthood in Crisis," Despard claimed that a powerful gay mafia exerted great influence in the Catholic Church in Scotland. The book appeared shortly after the resignation of Keith Cardinal O'Brien, the Archbishop of Edinburgh. O'Brien had been forced to resign because of allegedly sexually molesting priestly candidates. Despard's book had been withdrawn from the market after some of the persons named in the book had threatened with complaints.
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
Was this priest defrocked, as the title of the article suggests, or was he merely suspended a divinis and told to vacate the parish rectory? Being defrocked is far more serious than being suspended.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that child raping Conciliar priests were repeatedly sent to fake treatment and then a new parish, and only after massive outcries and payouts of money are those perverts laicised. Fr Despard has been locked out of his home. There is no one no vengeful and vindictive than angry sodomite. The priest could find another home with some JP2/neo-con bishop, but an episcopal change of mood, or a new bishop will mean him become a nomad again. I hope he can find a safe harbour with the SSPX. Revanchist sodomite prelates are arrogant these days. ICKSP and FSSP are both fine priestly societies, but if he remains with anyone under Modernist authority, he can be a target. Moving to the SSPX might act as a warning to prelatial fruits not to attack faithful priests. Now thus far, I see evidence of him losing his home and ministry. In practical terms it might not be too different from not being a priest. I hope Fr Despard makes a definite gesture and moves to somewhere he can be a faithful priest. The SSPX seem the best choice, being in Scotland, and not under the power of bugger bishops.
DeleteThe headline says Fr Despard has been dismissed from the clerical state, but the article speaks only of his suspension ( as parish priest?) What exactly is the status now of this good man?
ReplyDeleteHe's in the process of being booted. I don't know if he's been laicized yet or when that will happen, but it will happen.
DeleteIt's always the same old story, even in Belgium a layman teacher of Religion was fired by Daneels' protegé, the new Cardinal so close to the BoR.....
ReplyDeleteFor Whom the Bell Toals?
ReplyDeleteMy God, what an injustice. The wolves are getting more and more brazen and vicious.
ReplyDeleteThe 'update' is inaccurate in what it says about laicization. More importantly you clearly do not know if Fr Despard has been dismissed from the clerical state. It has been reported nowhere else that he has, and it is wrong to report as fact something that hasn't been established as fact. I think the title of this post needs to change unless it can be established as fact.
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely accurate about laicization.
DeleteHe's been kicked to the curb with his stuff, told to leave or he will be escorted by the police, etc...
There, I put it in the continuous future tense.
DeleteWhile the amendment of what you originally had is welcome, it is not clear from the article how you can even make the modified assertion. It may well be the case that Fr Despard is being dismissed from the clerical state, but the article merely repeats information that has been in the public domain for 2-3 years, and doesn't itself back up even the modified assertion.
DeletePerhaps you are privy to other information which you are not revealing, but suspension does not necessarily lead to laicization. Fr Despard has clearly decided to avoid public comment for some time. It seems to me that his case is not helped now by statements about his future that are not approved by him, especially when their accuracy is questionable.
He is presently being asked to leave the rectory. According to my lights, informed by over 30 years of spectating these things and commenting about them, this is a step toward laicization.
DeleteI'm thankful that the Neoconservative Viennese commerce website, kath.net, at least, reported on this story.
Father has also not chickened out as you seem to be suggesting, from the above linked article:
Delete"CONTROVERSY: Fr Matthew Despard complained about what he considered a culture of homosexual bullying within the Catholic Church and alleged that higher ranking clergy ignored or facilitated abuse. Joseph Toal arranged for letters to be given to Despard's parishoners strongly critical of Despard and later suspended him. Toal condemned Despard for questioning his authority. The overwhelming majority of parishioners walked out during a Mass which Toal held in Despard's former church. Parishioner, Geraldine Penches who was loudly applauded by others in the congregation described Matthew Despard as, "a very honest man" adding, "This is is more scandal to rock the Catholic church which has to be hushed up. Because Father tells the truth he is removed from his priestly duties. We the people are the church, not the bishops."[3]
Toal maintains accusations Despard made were false and defamatory"
I'm also thankful to Father for talking about something about which I and many others have been familiar in dealing with evil clergy and lay employees of various institutions we've been told are Catholic.
Your reply shows that you have no grounds for making even the modified assertion in the headline. He has been involved, and I understand is still involved, in legal matters involving both canon and civil law. It is likely that at least public suspension from functioning as a priest will continue until these are resolved. Perhaps when the dust settles he will be able to function publicly again as a priest. I hope so. Your headline (even in its modified form) removes such hope. I still question its accuracy.
DeleteI made no suggestion that Fr Despard had 'chickened out'. He spoke out courageously. His subsequent avoidance of public comment is not chickening out but standard practice when matters are sub judice.
DeleteSure you did. You claimed that he has remained silent for the last three years. The fact is that his book is still available and he's not retracted any of his statements, hence this malfeasant and evil shepherd stepping up his persecution of Father by throwing him out of his parish.
DeleteI made no suggestion. If I had I wouldn't have disputed what you said. Fr Despard's book was withdrawn from sale long ago - probably more than three years ago if I recall correctly. You are reporting old news. Check online and you'll see the timeline for yourself.
DeleteI also hear these bogus charges leveled against blogs that they cause evil bishops to be more evil than they already are by their "imprudent" suggestions.
DeleteWhether you like it or not, removing a priest from church property is a step toward laicization, and the bishop took this step long before we translated the story from Kath.net.
Sounds like he's got to resign, and what's especially evil is that the bishop is sueing him and depriving his elderly parents of a home in which they've resided for 30 years:
Deletehttps://www.google.com/amp/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/catholic-priest-centre-gay-mafia-9342145.amp
The report speaks of Fr Despard's forced resignation as a parish priest. Under canon law parish priests have rights. Fr Despard had been challenging the legality of his removal as parish priest. The report does not say that Fr D was resigning from the priesthood or being dismissed from the clerical state.
DeleteYour assertion that Fr D 'is being dismissed from the clerical state' is unsubstantiated. It should be substantiated or withdrawn.
It's absolutely correct. Get an attorney if you don't like it. It's 100% accurate.
DeleteWhether or not it is correct I do not know. You have not substantiated your assertion and what you have said indicates that you know little about the case which some of us have been following since 2013.
DeleteI don't need an attorney. I am a canon lawyer. Accuracy is important to me. I regret that it is lacking in your reporting, and I regret your inability to recognise this even after it has been clearly demonstrated to you. I will withdraw now from further comment on this.
Samuel, none of that really matters. The Scottish hierarchy--and the hierarchy well beyond Scotland--is riddled with sexual perversion. That's what matters and that's what needs to be addressed.
DeleteSamuel, you're operating under the premise that the Church of Scottland is anything other than that which can be described as Kafkaesque, and your attempt to suborn people into pretending it isn't, or that the problems will go away if we play nice, sure sounds like the tactics employed by the lavender princes who've somehow managed to take over the reigns of God's Church.
DeleteWhere did Samuel attempt to suborn people into pretending the Church of Scotland isn't Kafkaesque? And where did he say that the problems will go away by playing nice? Is English your second language? You are failing to address his points and sarcastically making up points of argument that he clearly did not propose. Just because he doesn't agree with you doesn't mean you have to take it as a personal affront. Answer him in a Catholic manner and please refrain from making up arguments which he never made.
DeleteSuggesting that a blog post will remove any hope of Father being reinstated to his former role, and that Father was 'lying low' and should continue to do so?
DeleteDid you miss that?
I don't normally make comments on this blog but am familiar with the situation in the parish in question, and very much support Father Despard.
DeleteI've followed the thread and Samuel's concerns about the way you have described Father Despard's status is entirely legitimate. You cannot say he is being dismissed from the priesthood unless that has been established as fact. If you establish it as a fact then you can report it. If it isn't established as a fact then you cannot report it.
As a matter of fact Father Despard has been 'lying low' for the past three years. He has withdrawn his book from sale. He has always sought to be a good and faithful priest, and sometimes good and faithful priests have to lie low - as did St Padre Pio when he was unjustly persecuted by the Church authorities. It would have done nobody any favours, during Padre Pio's troubles, for writers to claim that he was being 'dismissed from the clerical state.' As well as being unhelpful it would have been untrue. Doesn't truth matter?
Samuel asked you to substantiate your claim that Father Despard is in the process of being dismissed from the clerical state. Such a claim has been made nowhere else. Do you have insider information which substantiates your claim or are you under a misapprehension which needs to be corrected? I think Samuel's question deserves an answer.
"Suggesting" is not the same as "Stating". And "lying low" is not the same as "playing nice". So no, I did not "miss that".
DeleteThat's where you're wrong.
DeleteSorry Cathy, I don't see things the way you do. Who are you anyway?
DeleteIf we were talking about a bishop who wasn't manifestly corrupt, I guess I might see things your way. But as I've repeated ad infitum in this discussion, the process toward Father's complete dismissal is ongoing. We trust the wolves to continue as wolves and sheep as sheep.
The book wasn't so much removed from sale as removed outright by Amazon.uk.
It's still available for free, if you didn't know. I certainly plan to continue making it obvious.
Do you ask all commenters on here who they are? I've given as much information about me as you need to know. Who are you anyway?
DeleteI read the book when it came out. The distinction between its being "removed from sale" and its being "removed outright by Amazon.uk" adds nothing to the discussion.
Your repeating something ad tedium doesn't make it true. You have been asked a reasonable question about an assertion you made. Guesswork on your part is not an adequate justification for an assertion of the kind you have made.
At the moment we are awaiting an important response to important questions addressed by eminent cardinals. The character and integrity of someone is demonstrated by the way they answer or refuse to answer direct questions.
"Do you ask all commenters on here who they are? I've given as much information about me as you need to know. Who are you anyway?"
DeleteSo you're someone who holds Padre Pio's approach to ecclesiastical corruption in all instances in high regard. You're one of THOSE.
Why not follow his example then, and stay silent, or do you only feel emboldened to quibble and criticize people who are not silent?
I don't understand what you're saying.
DeleteI don't understand why you're giving orders as to what is and what is not accurate and object to identifying yourself.
DeleteI really doubt your account of what you've written or whether you know Father at all. Fact is, his book was removed by Amazon, it wasn't somrthing he willingly took down in order to lie low to abase himself to his malicious superior, or some insincere stab at obedience..
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/amazon-pull-priests-best-selling-book-1913032
Since when did asking a question become 'giving orders'?
DeleteI'm not sure what part of my 'account' you doubt, or why on earth you should doubt it, but it is immaterial. As for identifying myself, why should I?
The accuracy of the central claim of this blogpost - that Father Despard is being dismissed from the priesthood - has been questioned by DJR, Samuel, Anonymous and myself. Your unwillingness to address that question, and the petulance of your bizarre replies, is not impressive.
You sure are pushy. Do you always try to tell people the way you expect things to be based on your commands and on their own blog?
DeleteYou're probabaly Samuel's sock puppet.
The main point of the blog post is that a faithful priest is being persecuted by his bishop. You don't get to dictate what the post is about, either.
Besides being wrong about several details of Father's situation, you're kind of snotty and haughty.
DeleteDid his book have an imprimatur? Maybe that was the problem.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it have had to contain some serious errors for that to be the case?
DeleteWell, thanks to Tancred's link to the PDF I read the entire book this afternoon. If you haven't, then go thou and do likewise.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that sometimes he sounds a little paranoid--but as they say, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you. I don't know if he was a good parish priest (or chaplain) or not--but really, that's not the point. The charges he raises--that the Scottish church is replete with active homosexuals--is what the bishop should be focusing on. And really, do these charges sound at all implausible? Not to me.
If, throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the hierarchy had focused on ridding the clergy of sexual perversion, instead of on imposing on the church a liturgy that no one asked for and no one wanted, then we'd be in a much better position now. It's time for Toal and Francis to face up the this task. Let me re-phrase that, since we all know they're not going to do that...What should WE LAITY be doing to salvage the church? For starters, we can write to Toal and tell him to clean up his house instead of picking on whistle-blowers.
The truth of the state of things in the Church is not appreciated and when set forth by a member of clergy in a hostile environment, there are severe consequences. More than the 'smoke of satan' has entered the Church...
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone want to be a priest? Or even be Catholic?
ReplyDeleteThe Catholic Church is nothing but a filthy pig sty administered by the scum of the earth.
Karl
Karl, your bitterness is really getting boring. You sound like Luther....and that's a really, really bad thing.
DeleteSome wonder how Christ could sacrifice Himself for such people.
DeleteThe only way to decrease the influence of the Gay Mafia, and still have priests, is to ordain married men.
ReplyDeleteThat's stupid. We can be just that much closer to the kind of social and political irrelevance of the Protestants who've been similarly accommodating to the zeitgeist for many of the same reasons. A glance at the statistics will indicate that a married clergy is no guarantee against corruption or indeed, that marked bourgeois mediocrity which marks the Protestant clergy.
DeleteThat is literally the worst idea I've ever heard.
DeleteNope. It will drive the gays out.
DeletePlenty of them in the CoE and the EKD.
DeleteThey let them in. Our case is the opposite- they run everything, and we need to let the straights in.
DeleteHow does someone support this priest? Guy McClung, San Antonio, Texas
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking a great question.
DeleteHow come they not doing the same thing to bible which speaks the evil of those actions and a book written by a saint in 11 century who warned of the wrath of God because of homosexuality in the church written by St. Peter of Damian book call The book of Gomorrah and also St Catherine of Siena had a vision from lord on the evil of homosexuality which harms him so much, look it up and all these priest are trying to promote it, what a shame and they should take care and read over and over on the lords words if anyone causes any of these little ones to be scandalized , it'll be better if they were to put a stone on a rope and throw it in sea, it'll be better if they were never been born, that's scary for priest who promote sin and scandalize the people of God to see there's no sin.
ReplyDeleteWell, I live in the Diocese of Motherwell and know the parish and a family close to the said priest. The suggestion that the SSPX would be a possible home for him is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI have also read the priest's book and, although the main thrust may have some truth about it, the book makes for a toe-curling, buttock-clenching, self-serving cringe of a read.
At least in the SSPX he'll be treated fairly and be given the benefit of due process.
DeleteIf I didn't recognize your handle, I'd think you were Mrs. X's husband.
Despard has conned lots of people for years, that's who he is a professional conman. He was never cut out for the priesthood, read the book, the idiot says as much himself if you read between the lines. I can't remember one single time he heard confessions after 10 o'clock mass on a Saturday, and hardly ever gave a homily at mass on a Sunday.And if he did it only lasted a couple of minutes at best, and never dressed properly for mass don't think he new how to dress himself correctly, it was as if he was acting as a priest, one of the masses he celebrated was no longer than 15 minutes maximum, I'm being generous to him here, this was when he came to St Brides East Kilbride, where he gathered his little clique and pretend to be a caring,lovable, Holy priest. And the rest could drop dead. Don't forget he realised needed some people on his side or the game was up. I'm right Mr Despard ain't I. That's what he does every where he goes that's how he makes a living, he's was a lazy priest, ok he would run to the hospital when someone's mother was dying, or turn up at some event that suited him for whatever purpose he had in mind for the future. But always just mingling with his clique. I'm right Mr Despard ain't I. Re the book being withdrawn from Amazon, it had nothing to do with Despard, it was two people who were mentioned in the book. I am one of those people he told lies about, as god is my judge I've forgiven him, only because he is a very very sick person, also I don't understand how people from all over the world who read this pathetic little book, can back him up, when they don't even know anything about mr Despard I'm right Mr Despard ain't I. God Bless the Holly Catholic Church and save us from unworthy priests.
ReplyDeleteI’m willing to bet that you’re not fully on board with the Church’s teaching on a few things. I suspect that might be the real source of your grievance with Father Despard.
Delete