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Alabama priest who fled to Italy with teen he later married is expected to be defrocked
(www.nbcnews.com)
this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023
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dude was grooming a high school kid, married her the moment she turned 18.
adults?? neither of these 2 were acting like adults.
The article doesn't say anything about that. It says there was an investigation that was later closed with no findings of wrong doing.
And yes it's borderline that he waited til she was 18, but he DID wait til she was 18. Isn't that the entire point?
And she is 18 and has the right to make her own choices/mistakes now. Are you going to tell someone who is an adult in the eyes of the law that they can't choose whom to marry, or that the decision to marry is somehow morally wrong? Because that's exactly the implication that the church is trying to push here.
Maturity is a different question entirely.
No the point is not to groom children.
If they married as soon as they turned 18 they were almost certainly in a relationship before that.
So it seems this priest used their position to groom a child.
I would 100% agree you with you if not for the fact that they already investigating this exact possibility including subpoena the phone records and eventually closed the investigation without saying anything wrong happened. It's definitely suss and worthy of a proper investigation but when that happens and nothing comes of it what then?
IF it did happen we can only hope that she comes to her senses and reveals that information herself. But she's an adult now and that choice is entirely up to her. Nobody can force her. The government can't get involved and say no you aren't allowed to get married.
Believe me I have absolutely no love for the catholic church or really any religion in general. But I definitely do believe in civil liberties and despite how uncomfortable it can be at times this is how our system works.
Edit: I am wrong. I had attributed the investigation to the Catholic Church. It was a DA.
So never mind.
~~A very untrustworthy group investigated. They did not release any information on how they investigated. It was not a criminal investigation.~~
Is it newsworthy? Unlikely as this is so common.
Can you expand on that first part? I'm not familiar with the ins and out of that department and feel like you may have more information.
"the young woman came to a meeting with an attorney and declined to answer questions."
That's not an investigation. The DA closed the investigation because she didn't rat on him. With his attorney keeping an eye on her.
They can't make her testify against him because he's her husband.
In the old-fashioned sense, because she's married, she's not ruined. Case closed.
Also the Catholic Church is politically powerful, and while they're prepared to kick him out, they'll also hush up police investigations.
Sketchy as hell, yes, but if there's no evidence of wrongdoing the law can't, and shouldn't, take action against him.
Until evidence comes to light. This is key. They have fuck all of a case right now and if they blow their load too quickly, he'll be protected by double jeopardy laws.