THREE followers from a religious group based in Orkney have made a late-night secret escape from the island after the death of a monk from a local monastery.
Two priests and a subdeacon from the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer have defected from the Catholic group in the wake of a tumultuous period on the island, according to the Press and Journal.
Father Anthony Mary, one of the leaders from the faith group, has slammed the trio as he claimed they left Papa Stronsay “without notifying their superiors” and allegedly used a laptop “without permission” to contact a bishop in Aberdeen.
The trio's disappearance comes after Monk Justin Evans, also known as Brother Ignatius, was “lost to the sea” after being reported missing on April 12.
His body was recovered from the water by police and the Kirkwall Coastguard Rescue Team near the island of Stronsay on May 6.
Speaking on a Catholic radio station, Father Anthony Mary reportedly claimed that the trio’s escape plan was planned “in the days” after May 2, three weeks after Evans went missing and just days before his body was found.
The three former followers have reportedly cut all ties with the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer after they arranged a late-night boat departure from Papa Stronsay “without telling anyone”.
Father Anthony said during the broadcast that the escape took place earlier this month and has accused the Aberdeen Bishop Hugh Gilbert of working “against” them after the trio used a laptop to contact him.
“They acted without any recourse to me as the legitimate superior,” Father Anthony said, while speaking on the WQPH Catholic station on May 2.
“Although they had the Bishop’s permission, it effectively meant the bishop worked against us.”
He went on to claim that the escape appeared to have been planned in secret and that he discovered their plans after one of the other fathers checked the laptop.
“They tried to leave quietly, but it came to light on the very day they intended to go,” Father Anthony said.
“One of the fathers discovered it after they used a laptop without permission.
“They left on the evening boat, and we have heard nothing since – no word, no explanation, nothing.
“It is as though we never existed.”
According to the P&J, Father Anthony has written several times to both the bishop and the priests, but has received no direct response.
Father Anthony added: “I wrote to the bishop three times and to the priests four or five times.
“There has been no reply to me personally.
“Recently, the bishop said he would respond at some stage.
“But trying to live as a good Catholic and follow the faith has become very difficult.”
Speaking in a separate interview, Father Michael Mary claimed the trio left due to “theological differences”.
It comes after a new document published by The Sons titled “The Dogma to Steer By” calls Pope Leo XIV a “pretender” and for him to be replaced, along with the group's intent to withdraw their cooperation with the Vatican due to it being invaded by “modernist enemies”.
Following the document's publication, Father Michael has since been investigated for “heresy”.
He told journalist Stephen Kokx that the three members who defected from the group did not have the “consciences to go along with us”.
“We’ve lost three priests – two priests and a subdeacon – yeah, who have really not been in agreement from the beginning,” Father Michael said.
“They hung on for quite a while, not wanting to abandon their vocations but what we’ve come to now has been the last straw.
“They were unable in their consciences to go along with us. So, they left us.”
