THE former Bishop of Argyll and the Isles says he intends to marry Ms Kathleen Macphee, the divorced mother of three with whom he disappeared with more than three weeks ago.
It is likely to be a civil wedding "at a time that is suitable", Dr Roderick Wright told the Herald newspaper in Glasgow. He also described the inner turmoil which prompted his disappearance, and the way couple have been forced to live since returning from France two days ago to their cottage in Kendal, Cumbria.
The newspaper said he declined to discuss Ms Joanna Whibley, the mother of his 15 year old son Kevin, or the comments she had made about him. "She has the right to say whatever she wanted, and that is the only way I'll say it to you," he told the newspaper, which said there was "no question" of the former bishop being paid for the interview.
He also told the newspaper said he accepted that after 32 years in the ministry, he would never say Mass again. "I can't go back if I love Kathleen. I'm not going to give her up," he said.
"I'm not going to turn up as a priest in Latin America like Bishop Casey. Not being a priest is something I'll have to live with if I'm given the peace and time to do so. But I will always be a Catholic and right now one of the things we miss the most is not being able to go to Mass."
Dr Wright denied the couple had received £300.000 from selling their story to the News of the World, and said the figure was £15,000 which is to go to her children. "The arrangement was made by Kathleen, and we regret it," he said.
He admitted that when they do marry, it will not be in a Catholic church - not because she is a divorcee, but because he is a priest. He said he was virtually penniless, but would accept any responsibility for his son.
He said his relationship with Ms Macphee, and the existence of his son, was discussed with Cardinal Thomas Winning of Glasgow when he met him before his resignation was publicly announced.
"The cardinal said he just hoped I knew what I was doing."