Jaw-dropping moment, priest caught calling into council meeting via Zoom while driving to officiate a funeral

A priest was caught using his phone behind the wheel to make a call to a council meeting as he headed to officiate at a funeral.

Father Malcolm Lane, 69, was seen on camera sitting behind the wheel of his car while simultaneously trying to carry out his duties as a Conservative councillor.

A member of Monmouthshire County Council in south-east Wales, the Conservative councilor can be seen introducing himself on video link, when the chairman of the meeting suddenly realizes he is driving.

Labor councilor Armand Watts asks Fr. Range; ‘Malcolm, I just made an observation here, are you driving?’

Father Lane, who has served as a magistrate for 27 years and can be seen adorning his clerical collar in the footage, responded promptly; ‘Yes, I’m driving. I’m actually going to hold a funeral, but I’m listening carefully.”

Father Malcolm Lane (pictured) was seen driving to a funeral during a zoom meeting for the local council

Other counselors on the zoom call could be seen expressing their amazement at Father Lane’s actions

Cllr Watts, who was sitting in the council chamber in Usk, Monmouthshire, responded with ‘Hmm, wait a minute, a second’ – before advising him to pull over.

‘Malcolm, my advice to you, because I’m not sure where you are, obviously you have important business this morning, would be to possibly stop if you can,’ the Labor councilor said.

Fr Lane, who represents the Mardy constituency, responded concisely; ‘Yes I will’.

Other councilors present on the zoom call appeared shocked by the clergyman’s actions, with Monmouth Labor member Steven Garratt seen shaking his head and giving the thumbs-down gesture.

In response to the incident, a council spokesperson said that, like many other local authorities, Monmouthshire County Council holds its meetings both online and in person.

The spokesperson added; ‘This allows councilors to participate remotely in all meetings for a variety of reasons.’

Father Lane, who was scheduled to discuss dental services at the meeting, did not respond to a request for comment.