Crisis of faith in Scotland's most senior Catholic - Martyn McLaughlin

The waning influence of faith over public life in Scotland means that organised religion is not afforded the same degree of scrutiny it would have attracted as recently as a decade ago. But churches retain immensely institutional power, and when concern is raised about their direction of travel, it is important those speaking up are heard.

In recent months, I have written a series of stories about Archbishop Leo Cushley, one of Scotland’s most senior Catholic clerics. The latest, which ran at the weekend, detailed how dozens of parishioners have written an open letter to the 61 year-old, warning the imposition of a new fundraising levy could jeopardise the financial sustainability of smaller parishes.

But more than that, those ordinary parishioners, drawn from all walks of life, have also questioned whether the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, an organisation with nearly £57 million in reserves, is doing enough to help the poor, one of its stated purposes in its trust deed. This comes at a time when Scotland’s charity regulator is continuing to assess a complaint made against Archbishop Cushley and his fellow trustees, which alleges deliberate financial mismanagement. The archdiocesan trustees say they acted according to appropriate and independent professional advice.

For those of faith and those of none, these should be seen as significant issues. Among Scottish Catholics, they are of fundamental importance. The anger and frustration I have heard first hand comes amidst a wider context of wounds that have not been salved, questions that have gone unanswered, and a widening divide between the old and young, and the liberal and conservative.

It is worth remembering Archbishop Cushley was ushered into the archdiocese at short notice to help it heal from the damage wrought by his predecessor, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who resigned in the wake of allegations by three priests and a former priest of improper sexual contact. After Archbishop Cusley was ordained at St Mary’s in Edinburgh in September 2013, the former papal diplomat spoke of the need to be humble, to rebuild, and to embrace dialogue.

Nearly a decade on, the growing number of dissenting voices expressing concern over the actions of Archbishop Cushley and his fellow trustees suggests there is still a great deal still to be done.