Furious Motherwell priest calls woman late for Mass 'evil' and a 'clown' in vicious rant

A Motherwell priest was captured on camera calling a woman 'evil' in a tirade of abuse after she was late to Mass.

Father James Grant launched the furious rant at the woman outside St Xavier's chapel at Carfin Grotto on April 28.

In the 55-second clip, Grant calls the woman an "ignoramus" and "clown" as he shouts and points in her face. The clergyman is initially seen emerging from the main door of the church before he starts marching towards his parishioner as she walks towards him in the video seen by the Daily Record.

He then says: "Mass starts at 9 o' clock. You are consistently late for Mass. You are just pure rude and ignorant. You are an ignoramus of a woman."

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The Father then realises he is being filmed and continues: "Have you got it all? I look forward to seeing it on YouTube."

As the woman tries to enter the church, Grant continues to berate the woman, calling her "silly" and "evil".

He continues: "You are a silly, silly, silly, evil woman that's what you are. You are just "rude, rude."

Referring to the camera again, he adds: "Who are you going to show that to? You clown."

The priest then appears to swipe at the woman to stop her filming. Grant can then be seen letting other worshipers inside, before shutting the door in the woman's face.

A friend of the woman, who asked not to be named, told the Record Grant joined the chapel in 2020 and accused him of intimidating congregation members.

The man said: "This priest, who calls himself a man of God stands on the church steps as an elderly parishioner is running late for mass service.

"He pounds her with a tirade of verbal abuse and even raises his hand to her as she tries to enter the Chapel.

"Father Grant is a tyrant. He abuses people and he does not care who he hurts or upsets. He shouldn't be wearing the cloth because he is a disgrace of a man who is not fit to wear a dog collar.

"He has been abusing this lady for weeks and she has been terrified to return to the chapel since this happened. She is very upset by the situation.

"Motherwell diocese should want to remove him from their order."

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Other locals who viewed the footage were left appalled by Grant's behaviour.

One said: "I have never liked Father Grant. He has always been and to talk to people like this is out of order.

Another added: "This is shocking. Everyone should be welcome."

A third said: "This is disgusting, the poor lady didn't even say a word. And why did he let the other people who were late inside?"

"I'm sure God would never treat people like that."

Father Grant declined to comment on the incident.

The matter has not been reported to Police Scotland.

The Diocese of Motherwell has been contacted for comment.