Drunk clergyman arrested after punching mourner at funeral

A French Catholic bishop has apologised after a priest turned up drunk to preside over a funeral and then punched a mourner in the face. Father Bonaventure Ouedraogo, who is from Burkina Faso, was told by relatives that they did not want him to preside over the funeral held near the southwestern city of Toulouse.

They then prevented him from getting back into his car because he was too drunk to drive, according to Gerard Tillier, brother of the deceased woman. At this point the priest fell to the ground, and when a man tried to help him to his feet, he punched him in the face.

"Father Bonaventure ... arrived at the funeral in a state that was not compatible with his ministry," said archbishop Robert Le Gall in a statement. "I again offer my apologies to the family."

Mr Tillier said: "A priest who hits his parishioners, that's a new one, and who turns up drunk, let's not even talk about it!"