A Catholic priest in Alabama is on leave after he reportedly began a romantic relationship with a stripper while she was still a teenager and paid her hush money.
Robert Sullivan, the pastor of the Our Lady of Sorrows church in Homewood, Alabama, allegedly exchanged money for “private companionship” such as sex with Heather Jones when she was as young as 17, according to a statement to the Diocese of Birmingham obtained by The Guardian. Jones, now 33, claimed in a statement to the diocese that she met Sullivan while working at an “adult establishment” after growing up in foster care following her removal from her mother’s custody “due to severe neglect.”
Sullivan, 61, allegedly proposed “to form an ongoing relationship that would include financial support in exchange for private companionship.”
Jones said she “was hesitant but ultimately agreed due to his persistence and the state [of mind]” she faced at the time, AL.com indicated.
Jones alleged that Sullivan took her shopping and dining and they engaged in a sexual relationship over several years, The Guardian reported. Sullivan also purportedly paid for Jones to enter rehab after she suffered from depression and addiction amid the arrangement. She said Sullivan initially posed as a doctor, but she eventually discovered he was a Catholic priest, which she had difficulty reconciling with.
Sullivan and his lawyer had Jones sign a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for $273,000, according to the statement. She received two payments of $136,500 after signing the agreement, The Guardian reported, citing bank records she shared. (RELATED: Judge Sentences Failed GOP Candidate To 80 Years In Prison)
Sullivan said he was going on personal leave on Aug. 2, WBRC reported. The Diocese of Birmingham issued a letter from Bishop Steven Raica regarding Jones’ allegations against Sullivan. The diocese referred the allegations to Alabama’s Department of Human Resources (DHR) but said the DHR decided they did not reach the requirements needed to begin an investigation.
Jones’ claims were also reported to the Vatican.