Vatican inquiry into UK cathedral after lockdown ‘sex party’
THE Roman Catholic Church is reportedly investigating allegations of a lockdown ‘ sex party’ at a British cathedral.
The ‘party’ probe is allegedly part of a wider inquiry ordered by the Vatican into the resignation of Robert Byrne, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, last month.
The investigation, led by the Archbishop of Liverpool, will also probe any ‘alleged abuses, the culture of safeguarding and governance’ issues. Few details have been disclosed about the inquiry. However, claims allegedly being investigated include a ‘sex party’ at a property adjoining St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle during the Covid lockdown, The Sunday Times reported.
Canon Michael McCoy, the Dean at St Mary’s, reportedly approached a number of worshippers asking them if they wanted to attend a ‘party’ at the cathedral.
A diocese source told the newspaper: ‘A number of complaints were made by individuals within the diocese after information came to light about a sex party taking place in the priests’ living quarters attached to Newcastle cathedral.’
A second source told the paper that the cathedral had become ‘a laughing stock’. There is no suggestion Bishop Byrne attended or knew about the alleged party.
Canon McCoy took his own life in April 2021 – just four days after finding out he was being investigated by police over a historical child sex abuse allegation against him. Bishop Byrne, who was appointed in 2019, later resigned because his job had become ‘too great a burden’.
In a letter to lay members last month, he said he had made the decision ‘with great sorrow and reluctance’ and planned to return to Oxford, where he had previously lived.
The diocese had already
‘Became a laughing stock’
asked the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) to ‘conduct a review’ following Bishop Byrne’s resignation.
A spokesman for the diocese said they ‘remain fully committed to safeguarding... and to providing assurance that safeguarding procedures are as they need to be’.
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