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Vatican examines report on sex abuse allegations

By on September 12, 2012 5:56 am in International News / 12 comments

 

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A detailed report on child abuse allegations against a Scottish Catholic priest has been sent to the Vatican for a decision by the Church’s highest authorities.

Father Thomas Mullen, the priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in Dunfermline, was arrested in March last year by officers from Fife Constabulary in relation to allegations of child sex abuse dating back more than 30 years.

But earlier this year, the Crown Office decided to place the possible prosecution of the priest on hold, after Fiona Cameron, the procurator fiscal at Dunfermline, received a report from the Fife force.

A separate investigation into the allegations against the 
71-year-old priest by the Catholic Church in Scotland was then 
ordered by Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the head of the Church in Scotland.

The investigation was conducted by Father Paul Gargaro, the church’s senior investigator in Scotland, who is also the assistant priest at St Margaret’s Church in Clydebank.

The Church confirmed yesterday that his report has now been sent to the Vatican authorities in Rome for a final decision.

Father Mullen was placed on administrative leave from the priesthood after the allegations first surfaced, and he remains suspended from his duties as a parish priest.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh said: “Father Thomas Mullen has been removed from parish ministry pending the results of a Church investigation which has been forwarded to Rome for advice and judgment.

“The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh co-operated fully with the police investigation.”

A spokesman for Fife Constabulary confirmed yesterday that a 71-year-old man had been arrested.

Father Mullen could not be contacted for comment.

SOURCE

Scotsman

 
 
 
 

12 Comments

  1. James says:
    November 11, 2012 at 11:30 am

    I would extend my best wishes to anyone effected by sexual abuse in childhood. I can understand how difficult it must be to make a complaint, and especially difficult for male victims. If more people are brave enough to come forward justice will prevail.

    Reply
  2. neutral says:
    November 10, 2012 at 6:53 pm

    I know many people who know this man & I have never heard a bad word said about him. So lets wait for the investigation to have taken place before we hang this man. I have worked with victims and offenders of these sort of crimes, & to be accused wrongly is a deeply traumatic experience.

    Reply
  3. Michael says:
    September 17, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    I knew father Mullen when i attended church. He is a good man and not fair for him to be judged if he hasnt been found guilty

    Reply
  4. catholic says:
    September 17, 2012 at 8:59 am

    this is a good man dont judge what you dont know i dont belive these allegations are true but the vatican are investigating and they do not ever cover up so dont judge what u dont understand

    Reply
  5. cathloic says:
    September 16, 2012 at 3:18 am

    i know this man and i do not for one minute belive he is guilty he was my priest when i was younger and a friend

    Reply
  6. J. O. says:
    September 12, 2012 at 11:42 am

    Two different parts to the story – civil authorities can’t de-frock a priest – they can charge for criminal acts – Vatican can de-frock and they had better!

    Reply
    • Jim says:
      September 16, 2012 at 9:08 am

      There you go, J.O. — what a disgusting rush to judgment by you. The Vatican hasn’t completed their investigation, and we don’t know the outcome of the civil investigation — yet you call for defrocking. You are grossly unfair and biased.

      Reply
  7. Thomas Merton says:
    September 12, 2012 at 10:42 am

    This is like sending the fox in to count the chickens. A report of child sexual abuse sent to the party headquarters of child sexual abusers. What a joke. Why isn’t the report sent to the police and child welfare officials? BECAUSE it would not be covered up and swept under the rug of of clergy secrets. I don’t know what’s worse. Having the report and not sending it to the police or send it to the vatican where all truth get’s hidden.

    Reply
    • Catholic Lady says:
      September 12, 2012 at 5:43 pm

      Thomas; Why isn’t the report sent to the police and child welfare officials? Because it was a police report; the Fife Police Force. The Crown had put the prosecution of the priest on hold. The Catholic Church in Scotland a separtate investigation into the allegations of child abuse dating back 30 years and the report sent off to the Vatican for a final solution. While Father Mullen is on leave…Lots of information here..Hardly a cover-up.

      Reply
    • Jim says:
      September 16, 2012 at 9:10 am

      I feel sorry for you, TM, that you have such venom for the Church through which, if you make it to Heaven, you will go. In Heaven, your place will be lower forever because of your disgusting unfairness.

      Reply
 
 

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