Crossword Genius

High priests perhaps, and others, act appallingly (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

theocrats

'high priests perhaps' is the definition.

'others act appallingly' is the wordplay.
'appallingly' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'others'+'act'='othersact'
'othersact' with letters rearranged gives 'THEOCRATS'.

'and' is the link.

(Another definition for theocrats that I've seen is " People having religious authority".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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