CATHOLIC church chiefs were last night slammed for splashing out £215,000 of parishioners' cash on a villa for a bishop's housekeeper. Pauline Curran - maid to the Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Devine - moved into the plush detached home last year, despite already having private living quarters at his home.
And angry Labour MSP Michael McMahon last night demanded to know why so much was shelled out when many cash-strapped parishes are struggling to make ends meet.
Mr McMahon, MSP for Hamilton North and Bellshill, said: "He is spending money that is not his.
"The Bishop needs to be open and honest with his community, and explain exactly what is going on."
At the time the villa in Motherwell was bought, Ms Curran already had accommodation at the bishop's home in nearby Hamilton.
That home has since been demolished - but the rented premises the bishop has since moved into in Bothwell also has quarters for an assistant.
Land records show the owners of the £215,000 housekeeper's villa are Bishop Devine, Monsignor John Burns and Monsignor Thomas O'Hare - in their capacity as trustees of the diocese.
But Monsignor Burns insisted he had no knowledge of the sale, adding: "I had nothing to do with it."
When asked about the villa, the bishop's spokesman said diocese chancellor Frank Cassidy had all the facts.
But Mr Cassidy insisted the idea for the purchase came from the bishop, adding: "I arranged the legalities and got the conveyancing done for the property.
"It's all above board. Monsignor Burns is aged, and he probably has forgotten the house was bought."
Monsignor O'Hare - the third trustee - said: "Bishop Devine is the one you should speak to."
Last night the Catholic Church was unavailable for comment.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: TSUK