A Catholic clergyman in Alabama, USA, has allegedly entered into matrimony with an 18-year-old girl, with both individuals absconding to Italy. The marriage between 30-year-old Alex Crow, a Catholic priest, and the young woman, who graduated from high school in 2023, was officially documented in Mobile County on Monday, as per the New York Post.
The marriage certificate indicates that the girl, who came of age in June, previously attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High, where Crow was known to frequent theology classes. The connection between the two surfaced when authorities uncovered a love letter from the priest, delivered on Valentine’s Day while she was still a student.
Subsequently, Crow and the young woman embarked on a journey to Europe during the summer months, returning to the United States earlier this month, as reported by AL.com. Following these events, Crow faced suspension from his ecclesiastical duties. Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi conveyed that Crow’s recent civil marriage substantiates the Archbishop’s decision. It is anticipated that the Vatican will revoke Alex Crow’s ecclesiastical authority in due course, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Mobile.
Archbishop Rodi, in an earlier statement, denounced Crow’s actions as “wholly inappropriate for a priest.” The statement clarified that Crow is no longer permitted to function as a priest, publicly identify as one, or attire himself in clerical garb.
