In the latest in a series of sexual scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, a priest who declared his love for a woman has been banned from hearing confessions and removed from his pastoral duties.
Even though he remains a priest and can still say Mass, the effective dismissal of Father Sante Sguotti from his parish in Monterosso near Padua in northern Italy comes soon after another parish priest near the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in France was forced out because he had a girlfriend.
Catholic worshippers in Asson in south-west France had heard Father Léon Laclos confess that he was having a sexual relationship with one of his parishioners and his contention that being in love had brought him closer to his congregation and to God.
Both clergy had support from large numbers of their parishioners. The debate could ultimately threaten the Catholic Church in the same way that the row over homosexuality is splitting the Anglican Communion, although the stronger hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church means that in the short-term, it will withstand the dissent without schism, even if the laity and clergy are discontent.
What a terrible headline. He wasn’t banned for “falling in love.” He was banned for having an adulterous affair.
IMO, Fathers Sante & Leon, are equally guilty of a sinful rejection of their ordination vows, as is any other priest engaging in sexual activity outside matrimony.
Fr Sante’s affair is also with a married woman, so, it’s tough to give him much of a pass for this adultery.
It is a good thing that Rome has the ability and will, to enforce on those who take their vows, the consequences of failing to uphold them. Would that TEC would be so capable of keeping faith.
[blockquote]The debate could ultimately threaten the Catholic Church in the same way that the row over homosexuality is splitting the Anglican Communion, [/blockquote]
HAHAHA!! Keep dreaming guys.
“Oh my GOODNESS, we’ve NEVER had a Priest fall in love before! It’s the end of the woooooooooooooorld!! The Church is crumbling!”
I don’t mean to be crass, but “being in love” and having an illicit sexual relationship with a parishioner is not the same thing.