An Alabama Catholic priest who fled to Italy with a teenager months ago is now married to the teenager, and an archbishop revealed on Wednesday, November 22, that the Vatican will likely take steps to officially dismiss him from the priesthood .
Alex Crow, a 30-year-old Catholic priest, married the 18-year-old woman who just graduated from high school in 2023, according to a marriage certificate filed in Mobile County on Monday, Nov. 20 .
She only turned 18 in June, the document states.
The teen attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High, where Crow occasionally attended theology classes, according to reports.
The pair’s affair became evident when authorities learned of a love letter she received from Crow on Valentine’s Day, when she was still a student.
Crow and his wife went to Europe over the summer before returning to the U.S. earlier this month, AL.com reported.
Crow, who has since been suspended, likely gave his last sermon, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi signaled this week.
“The recent news of Crow’s civil marriage only confirms the Archbishop’s judgment. Archbishop Rodi predicts that the Vatican will eventually laicize Alex Crow,” read a statement from the Archdiocese of Mobile.
Rodi, in an earlier statement, criticized the spiritual leader and said his actions were “totally unbecoming of a priest.”
“He was told by the archbishop that he can no longer minister as a priest, nor can he tell people he is a priest, nor can he dress like a priest,” he said.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said over the summer that he believed “there was some preparation” between Crow, who was ordered in 2021, and the teenager, considering the age difference.
But the county district attorney announced earlier this month that an investigation into criminal wrongdoing has been closed, according to reports.
District Attorney Keith Blackwood said the young woman met with prosecutors and refused to answer any questions.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com