THE tight knit Catholic community of Oban yesterday began rebuilding its future after the scandal of its disgraced former Bishop Roderick Wright, vowing to "put the nightmare behind them".
Archbishop Keith O'Brien, administrator of Dr Wright's former diocese, Argyll and Isles, said after celebrating Mass at the diocesan seat, St Columba's Cathedral, in Oban: "From the people I have spoken to there is a feeling quite simply of relief that something of the nightmare they have been through is ending."
Archbishop O'Brien led prayers this morning for a "good, holy bishop" to be sent to the diocese to replace Dr Wright.
Archbishop O'Brien added: "If Roddy is truly sorry he'll have to give up this woman, Mrs Macphee, and seek suitable direction and professional counselling to sort out his life. There could be a possibility of him being allowed back, but not in this country."
Dr Wright and Mrs Kathleen Macphee, the divorcee with whom he fled his diocese nearly three weeks ago, were reported by the News of the World yesterday to be in the Dordogne area of France.
The couple were said to have shared a bed there but Dr Wright would not say if there was a sexual relationship. "A bed is just a bed after all. That doesn't mean a thing," he told the newspaper.
He said there had been no other women in his life apart from Mrs Macphee and the woman who bore his son, who is now 15 years old.
He also disclosed a passion for Glasgow's Celtic football club, telling the newspaper: "I haven't been able to get to a match for years, but all that will change now."