The Catholic Church has been accused of ramping up tensions in Glasgow’s East End following an alleged attack on a priest.

The Rising Star of Bridgeton Royal Black Preceptory became the second Protestant organisation to be refused permission to march past St Alphonsus Church at the Barras.

Marchers had intended on parading past the church this Saturday, just two months after priest, Canon Tom White, was allegedly attacked during the annual Boyne parade.

They were ordered to re-route after concerns from Police Scotland.

Ronnie Convery, director of communications at the archdiocese, claimed parishioners had been anxious ahead of the decision and said that common sense had prevailed in the end.

Read more: Orange Order slams council after cancelling Glasgow march

But James G MacLean, representing the Rising Star of Bridgeton, said: “Tensions have been ramped up deliberately by the Roman Catholic Church who will not allow this incident to rest.

“Mr Convery, who is representing the hierarchy, has vilified members of the loyal orders by at the very least implying that they were responsible for or supported the disgraceful attack on Canon White.

“We would repudiate this notion and we would highlight the fact that no sympathy has been extended to our community and there have been attacks on Orange halls in the locality and elsewhere in Glasgow.

“We are tired of being demonised because of the attack on Canon White. No individuals who carried out such anti-social behaviour were acting on our behalf.”

The Royal black Preceptory – who are separate to the Orange Order – wanted to start in Tullis Street before going through Main Street, Bridgeton Cross, London Road, High Street, Ingram Street, Cochrane Street, Montrose Street and George Square.

Read more: Orange Order parade past Glasgow church where priest was attacked called off

But they must now go through Tullis Street, Main Street, Olympia Street, London Road, Fielden Street, Millerston Street, Duke Street, George Street, Montrose Street, Cochrane Street and George Square.

Mr MacLean insisted that Glasgow City Council were acting at the behest of the Catholic Church by refusing to allow marching past St Alphonsus.

The decision came as two republican walks get set to parade close to the scene.

Cairde nah Eireann are expected to lead 200 marchers through the Gallowgate and London Road on Saturday, while the Republican Network for Unity will go through the Gallowgate and Barrowlands Park on Saturday.

Mr MacLean highlighted that the archdiocese had not opposed those marches, close to the church.

But in a statement, Mr Convery said: “We are grateful that common sense has prevailed. The re-routing of the march will bring relief to the people of St Alphonsus parish and the surrounding area, who viewed with anxiety and fear the prospect of another march past the church so soon after the disgraceful scenes earlier this summer.”

The RSBRP are expected to appeal the decision at the Sheriff Court.

It comes just weeks after an Orange march was prevented from walking past the church amid concerns over potential disorder.

At that time Police Superintendent John McBride claimed that five times as many specialist officers as normal would have to be drafted in if the march went past the church.

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland insisted that represented “discrimination in its purest form”.