A former Catholic priest from Mobile, Alabama, named Alex Crow, has been stripped of his priesthood by the Pope after he fled to Italy and married an 18-year-old girl named Taylor Victoria Harrison.
The Archdiocese of Mobile has received notice of the laicization of Alex Crow, effective immediately, according to a statement released on November 22. His dismissal from the church came after reports surfaced that he had eloped with the teenage girl while he was a guest lecturer at McGill-Toolen High School, as per Daily Mail.
Disgraced Priest Marries Teenager, Stripped of Priesthood
Father Crow was a well-liked priest in Mobile, known for his demonology sermons at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. However, after reports of his elopement with Harrison, the Archdiocese of Mobile released a statement in July 2023, stating that Crow had failed to complete his job.
The Guardian reported that the girl he had married, Taylor Victoria Harrison, is now 18 years old, while Alex Crow is 30. According to the news outlet, they spent around four months traveling to Europe following their departure from Mobile in July 2023.
The relationship came to light when authorities discovered a Valentine's Day love letter Crow had sent to Harrison when she was still a student. The local news outlet, Al, reported that the couple had initially traveled to Spain so that Crow could perform an exorcism on her.
Later reports confirmed that they had traveled to Italy, where they were eventually married. They submitted a signed and notarized license application to the state on November 17, as required by Alabama law.
The Archdiocese of Mobile responded swiftly to the news of Crow's marriage by stating that Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi had suspended Crow and prohibited him from acting, dressing or presenting himself as a priest. Furthermore, Rodi maintained that he saw no way back to the priesthood for Alex Crow.
The Pope has now stripped Alex Crow of his priesthood, as confirmed by the Archdiocese of Mobile. The district attorney for Mobile County had earlier decided to close an investigation into any possible criminal wrongdoing related to Crow and Harrison's relationship, according to SK Pop.
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Church Faces Questions on Controversial Response
The couple's relationship has sparked controversy and raised questions about the Catholic Church's policies on clerical celibacy. Critics have argued that Crow's relationship with Harrison was a clear violation of his vows of chastity and morality. The church has maintained that such actions are unacceptable and that it has taken swift action to address the issue.
Crow has not yet responded to media inquiries about the laicization or his future plans. He remains a controversial figure in Mobile, with many residents expressing concern about his influence on the community and the damage his actions may have caused to the church's reputation.
The situation raises several legal and ethical questions, including the age of consent in Alabama and whether Crow could be held liable for any criminal wrongdoing. Nonetheless, Archbishop Rodi has reiterated that Crow's actions are "totally unbecoming of a priest," and he is no longer welcome in the church.
As the Catholic Church continues to grapple with the fallout from scandals involving clerical abuse and misconduct, cases like Alex Crow's serve as a disturbing reminder of the need for reform and greater accountability within the institution. The Pope's decision to strip Crow of his priesthood will likely be viewed as a welcome step toward addressing these issues and restoring the public's trust in the church, USA Today reported.
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