Priests...

[lynniepie]

This may sound like an odd question but how can you find out if a Catholic Priest is actually a Catholic Priest and if he is one who do go to to complain about them?

To put you in the picture, we are a very close Italian/Catholic family. I am extremely close to my cousins who are like brothers and sisters to me. One of my cousins has been having a hard time from her psychotic mother and her brothers because she has met a lovely bloke who they all seem to have taken a severe dislike to. She is almost 40 and they are constantly running her life for her and ,like me, she is too much of a wuss to stand up for herself. Anyway, there is a Catholic priest who lives in the same area. He suddenly appeared from Ireland and took to my cousin's family very quickly. And, he being a priest, was welcomed immediately. He is a rather odd guy. He gambles on the horses, goes to Casinos, swears like a trooper, leers at women and even asked my cousin out on a date a few times (which she declined!) This priest has now taken it upon himself to find out about this guy she is seeing. He is from Italy and comes over here every weekend to see her. The priest has told her mother that this guy is only interested in their money and is using my cousin and his family are all gypsies! Absolute tosh! His family are loaded and don't need any of my cousin's money. My cousin and I are slightly suspicious of this priest because he doesnt seem to have a church where he preaches(is that the right word?) and because of who he is I feel he is manipulating my Aunt and of course she believes him, because he is a priest.
We just want to know if there is any way of finding out this guy is who he says he is and why does he have an unhealthy obsession with my family?

Sorry its a bit jumbled and all over the place but it would take pages and pages to go into it all!

Thank you Lx

[andy-hughes]

Your local Reference Library should have a Diocesan Directory, which lists all the parishes in your diocese and the priests who work in them.

It is possible that your priest is not affiliated to a local parish, but if in doubt, find out who your bishop is - he is effectively the 'boss' and write to him expressing your concerns about the priest's conduct.

Be aware, the shortage of priests is so acute now, that they'd take gary Gilmore if he wore a dog collar, so a lot of obvious bad behaviour is 'overlooked' by the hierarchy.

It's still worth investigating though.

If you fel able - and I know how much a born-and-bred Catholic can be in awe of a priest - why not go and see him and have a chat about his attitude and approach? It does them good to be given a shake now and again, they live revered lives and it makes them behave badly a lot of the time.

[lynniepie]

Andy, thank you so much. I appreciate your reply. Thank you

Lx

[andy-hughes]

You are most welcome.

A x

[Ankou]

not being funny, but if this woman is 40 years old and can't handle her own business then it wont matter if he is a real priest or not. the family will still run her life.

[marie26]

I agree with the others. The Diocese and Bishop's office would be your first avenue of help. It does sound most odd. He may even be a sacked priest. Even priests on holiday will celebrate Mass. The local priest should also be able to offer help, as he would not like scandal in the neighbourhood, and would generally know of visiting priests anyway.
Sounds like a fraud to me, but there remains the original problem.

[Theland1]

Kick his ass out!