A priest has been slammed for branding a woman as 'evil' in a furious rant after she was late to Mass.
Father James Grant was caught on camera as he launched a tirade of abuse at the churchgoer outside St Xavier's chapel at Carfin Grotto in Motherwell on April 28.
In a shocking 55-second clip, shared with the Record, Grant is also heard calling the woman and "ignoramus" and a "clown" as he shouts and points in her face.
The Catholic clergyman is first seen emerging from the main door of the church before he starts marching towards his parishioner as she walks towards him.
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."
The fuming Father then realises he is being filmed and confronts the woman asking: "Have you got it all? I look forward to seeing it on YouTube."
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Father Grant's furious rant continues as the woman tries to enter the church.
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.
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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."
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 the let the other people who were late inside?
"I'm sure God would never treat people like that."
The Daily Record approached Father Grant but he declined to comment on the incident.
The matter has not been reported to Police Scotland.
The Diocese of Motherwell has been contacted for comment.
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