Church apologises after jailed priest named in prayer list

A Stockport church has withdrawn a newsletter after it included prayers of “thanksgiving” for a former priest jailed for sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Our Lady and the Apostles Church in Edgeley listed Father Vincent Whelan in its latest newsletter ahead of a Mass on Saturday.

One parishioner said they were “disgusted” to see his name.

The listing read: “Fr Vincent Wheelan (sic), Thanksgiving”.

The church later confirmed it referred to Father Whelan, whose surname had been misspelled. It said the prayer had been requested by a parishioner and that he would not be attending or leading the Mass.

The parishioner said: “I was just disgusted when I saw his name. It should never have been added to the newsletter. If people want to pray for that man it should be in another parish, not here where because he caused such harm.”

Father Whelan was jailed for nine months in 2018 after being convicted of three counts of indecent assault against a teenage girl in the 1980s.

Manchester Crown Court heard he had used his position as a parish priest to groom and sexually abuse the girl. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a restraining order.

The Diocese of Shrewsbury said he has no public ministry and is subject to a safeguarding plan.

A spokesperson said: “Father Vincent Whelan is subject to a strict safeguarding plan following his conviction of indecent assault in 2018 and subsequent custodial sentence. He exercises no public ministry in the Diocese whatsoever.

“The inclusion of his name on a parish newsletter reflects only the private prayer intentions of one member of the parish. It does not indicate the involvement of Father Whelan in the Mass of September 26. Nor does it imply thanksgiving by the parish for his ministry. It is a clerical oversight which has been corrected by the withdrawal of the newsletters as hard copies and online.”

At his sentencing, Judge Patrick Field QC described the offences as an “unacceptable abuse of trust”.

The judge said: “These offences were committed against a [teenage] victim. A child. Whilst a parish priest, you ambushed her and forced yourself upon her, kissing her on the mouth.

“She recalled your teeth clattering with hers and the horror she experienced at the time. I have no doubt this was a shocking experience for a young child and this will have been seated upon her memory.

“Given your position of trust as parish priest, your actions towards her was an unacceptable abuse of that trust. It was your good character that enabled you into the complainant’s life and allowed you to abuse her.

“I conclude that your actions can only be justified by an immediate deprivation of your liberty.”