Mobile company sheriff believes 18-year-old was ‘groomed’ by Mobile Priest

Mobile, Alabama (WKRG) — The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office has released new information about the relationship between Priest Mobile and an 18-year-old McGill Turen University graduate who just left the country last month to go to Italy with him. announced the details.

Sheriff Birch previously said the two were not close and his office was not considering criminal charges against Fr, but that’s now changed.

“Initially, it was said that we didn’t seem to have anything in common, but as you know, we’re looking at some new things and believe that’s not the case,” Birch said. said.

Birch said the question of whether criminal charges would be brought against Corpus Christi priest Alex Crowe, who claimed the archdiocese had “abandoned its duties,” ultimately depends on exactly when their relationship began. said it was over.

“I think in the last year or two there has been inappropriate behavior, not necessarily sexual,” Birch said.

McGill Turen acknowledged “Mr.” Crowe visited several theology classes from September to December 2021 and heard confessions,” he said in a July 28 Facebook post.

“It doesn’t matter how old she is as long as the relationship started at that time,” Birch said. “She could have been 20 years old. You’re a school agent. You can’t have a relationship with a student, no matter how you define it.”

Mr Birch said he spoke to the young woman last week and told her at the time that she had no intention of returning to Mobile, consistent with Crowe’s statement in his letter to the Archdiocese of Mobile. there is

“Grooming is a good choice of word because it looks like what he did. I think there was an attempt not only on her, but on the other students at least.” Professor Birch said.

District Attorney Keith Blackwood told WKRG News 5 in a statement, “The circumstances surrounding this case are alarming and the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office is taking the full attention of it.”

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Mobile told WKRG News 5, “It is customary for the Archdiocese of Mobile not to comment on legal matters involving church officials.”

Sheriff Birch said his office is currently working with federal agencies on the case.