Vatican Investigates Alleged Sex Party At UK Cathedral

The Guardian reports:

The Vatican is investigating rumours of a “sex party” at a British cathedral which is alleged to have happened during lockdown. As part of an investigation into the circumstances of Robert Byrne’s resignation as the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, the Catholic church is looking into claims one of his priests invited worshipers to a private party at his lodgings.

Multiple people are said to have complained that Father Michael McCoy, dean of Newcastle Cathedral, approached them to attend a party at a time when gatherings were not permitted. McCoy, 57, killed himself in April 2021 four days after finding out he was subject to an investigation by Northumbria police department for child sexual abuse.

Read the full article.

It’s not believed that Byrne attended the party.

Vatican investigating rumours of ‘sex party’ at Newcastle cathedral https://t.co/y6srZ7PCoA

— The Guardian (@guardian) January 22, 2023

The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, The Right Reverend Robert Byrne, has quit after three years saying the role had become “too great a burden” https://t.co/XAs0R5u17w

— BBC North East and Cumbria (@BBCNEandCumbria) December 13, 2022