Priest sacked for affair takes Catholic Church to tribunal

Published on Sunday 29 June 2008 22:23

A PRIEST is to sue the Catholic Church for sacking him over an 18-year affair with a woman.

Former monsignor Joseph Creegan is the first Scottish priest to take the Church to court, claiming for lost wages via an employment tribunal.

However, it is understood church lawyers will attempt to have the case thrown out, arguing the clergyman did not work for them but for God.

If they are successful, the case will fail as only employees can go to a tribunal.

A senior priest and expert in canon law said yesterday: "His relationship is with God, he is a servant of God, not of the diocese or the bishop."

Mr Creegan now works in a tax office in Dundee after being forced to leave his former home provided by the church in the city. He currently shares a 350,000 house with former parishioner Anne Ogden, 48, in Balmerino, Fife.

He was reported to be spending nights with Ms Ogden earlier this year, which prompted his jealous mistress to confess a secret sexual relationship, lasting nearly two decades, with the monsignor to Bishop Vincent Logan. The 62-year-old claimed they had taken holidays together and that they even jointly own a boat.

It is understood Mr Creegan later became involved with Ms Ogden after counselling her through the break-up of her marriage.

Bishop Logan suspended Mr Creegan and the church issued a statement saying: "Bishop Logan acted as soon as he was given specific and irrefutable evidence about the allegations which had been made earlier."

The case was set to be heard today in Dundee but will be postponed as lawyers for the church have asked for more time.

One senior priest and legal expert insisted priests are not employees: "There is no employer/employee relationship. Once a priest is incardinated into a parish, he is on his own. A priest can walk away, disappear any time he likes, there are no 'priest police' to bring him back.

"It's a bit like an NHS GP. They work for themselves but they almost always get their living from the NHS. But the NHS does not employ them."

If church lawyers are successful and the case does not proceed to an employment tribunal then Mr Creegan has the option of appealing, which could see the claim taken to the House of Lords. Peers would then have to rule if the clergy are employees with the same rights as other workers.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the diocese said: "Proceedings having started and the diocese of Dunkeld feels it is inappropriate to comment at this time."

Mr Creegan refused to comment on the tribunal.