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	Priest Banned for Falling in Love By Ruth Gledhill The Times October 10, 2007 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2629536.ece In the latest in a series of sexual scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, a priest who declared his love for a woman has been banned from hearing confessions and removed from his pastoral duties. Even though he remains a priest and can still say Mass, the effective dismissal of Father Sante Sguotti from his parish in Monterosso near Padua in northern Italy comes soon after another parish priest near the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in France was forced out because he had a girlfriend. Catholic worshippers in Asson in south-west France had heard Father Léon Laclos confess that he was having a sexual relationship with one of his parishioners and his contention that being in love had brought him closer to his congregation and to God. Both clergy had support from large numbers of their parishioners. The debate could ultimately threaten the Catholic Church in the same way that the row over homosexuality is splitting the Anglican Communion, although the stronger hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church means that in the short-term, it will withstand the dissent without schism, even if the laity and clergy are discontent. The Bishop of Padua, Antonio Mattiazzo issued a decree on Monday forbidding Father Sguotti to hear confession and replaced him with another priest because of his love for one of his parishioners. The daily newspaper La Repubblica reported that "only four faithful, all elderly women, attended mass celebrated by the new priest Monday evening, a sign of Monterosso's solidarity with the rebel priest." Young people in the town have even had T-shirts made with the inscription "We are all children of Don Sante," alluding to a rumour that the priest had a child with the parishioner, who is reportedly separated from her husband. "I don't know yet what I'll do," Father Sguotti told La Repubblica. "As always, it's a decision that I will take with the help of my brothers and sisters of Monterosso." Earlier this year, Father Sguott polled his parishioners and of the 200 who responded, just 16 wanted him to leave. He also went on national television in August, stating he was in love with the parishioner and wanted to be publicly acknowledged as her boyfriend. He has evaded questions over whether he is the father of the woman's son, who he helped to name. The Vatican has repeatedly insisted there will be no relaxation on celibacy, even though in England and elsewhere, such as in eastern-rite churches in the former Soviet Union, some priests are allowed to be married. The Catholic Church in England has several ex-Anglican priests who left the Church of England ministry over women's ordination and who have been allowed to serve as Catholic priests in spite of having wives and in some cases, children. Many theologians however believe the Church will have to adapt at some stage, the change being essential because of a worldwide shortage of priests and also because there is little or no Biblical mandate for it. Celibacy, which technically means unmarried, was not introduced universally until the 12th century and increasing numbers of theologians believe the Church need not be immutable on this. But at present, there is little sign of change. Only last November, Pope Benedict XVI convened a summit of clergy who came out against the demands of Emmanuel Milingo, the Zambian archbishop who was excommunicated last year after launching a campaign for priests to be allowed to marry. Archbishop Milingo had renounced his marriage to Maria Sung in a mass Moonie ceremony in 2001 but was never successfully rehabilitated by the Church.
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