TWO years ago, the Catholic Church in Scotland issued a "profound apology" to victims of child abuse and for the church's failure to investigating the culprits.
The official mea culpa came after an inquiry, headed by former prisons inspector John McLellan, criticised the church on a number of fronts. Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia's response to the report was commendable: "Child abuse is a horrific crime. That this abuse should have been carried out within the church, and by priests and religious [orders], takes that abuse to another level."
He told a congregation that Scottish bishops were "shamed and pained" and said: "We say sorry. We ask forgiveness."
However, abuse of power is not confined solely to sexual misconduct; it also encompasses basic standards of decency and organisations using their power proportionately.
As we reveal today, Marie Lindsay was a parish catechist who worked with her local priest to help children with their spiritual development. However, after an apparent fall out with Archbishop Tartaglia, she believes that the Archdiocese of Glasgow treated her appallingly.
According to Lindsay, her clashes with the new parish priest Father Milarvie – a friend of Tartaglia – led to church bullying. The tension, she said, culminated in the Archdiocese sending round two former police officers in a bid to get her to sign a "behavioural contract" in relation to her dealings with Father Milarvie.
Lindsay's lawyer believes the contract and the use of the ex-cops were an "unpleasant and sinister attempt to intimidate" her, an analysis with which it is hard to disagree.
Over the course of centuries, the Catholic Church has shown itself to be an overwhelming force for good, but sending round former detectives to resolve a petty dispute seems ridiculous.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow should apologise to Lindsay and concentrate its efforts on properly serving its parishioners.
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