Robert Sullivan, a longtime Roman Catholic priest in Alabama, voluntarily left the clergy following serious allegations made by a woman. The accusations allege that Sullivan provided financial assistance to the woman in return for the “discreet companionship.” This allegedly involved sexual intercourse that started when she was just 17 years old. Sullivan’s resignation and the laicization following were announced by Bishop Steven Raica on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.
Sullivan, who was ordained as a priest in 1993, had served for over two decades within the Birmingham diocese. Since 2020, he has been one of the vicars general. Furthermore, he is the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood, Alabama. At the time of his resignation, he turned 61 years old.
The charges against Sullivan arose when Heather Jones, the woman at the center of the scandal, shared information about her romantic connection with Sullivan. First, Sullivan deceived Jones by introducing himself as a medical doctor, causing Jones to assume he was not a priest. In subsequent months, he took her shopping, eating, and to hotel rooms across at least six different Alabama cities. Their interactions became tumultuous, going as far as Sullivan suggesting he would propose to Jones.
Jones alleged that Sullivan had paid her hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to keep quiet about their mutual arrangement. She criticized and publicly called for his resignation from the faith community. This concern became particularly acute because of his frequent pastoral contact with families and children as a priest at Our Lady of Sorrows Church.
“Others may be vulnerable to the same type of manipulation and exploitation,” – Heather Jones
Jones recounted her perspective on their relationship, stating, “At the time, I was a minor, with no experience navigating adult relationships, and no understanding of how power and influence could be used to manipulate someone vulnerable.” She testified about Sullivan’s determination to create a relationship where she received financial support in return for companionship.
“I was hesitant but ultimately agreed due to his persistence and the desperate state I was in,” – Heather Jones
We were glad to see Bishop Steven Raica of Alabama speak out strongly on this. He recognized the challenges that the local church has endured since the allegations became public.
“These four months since the allegations surfaced have been challenging in the life of our local church,” – Bishop Steven Raica
Sullivan’s choice to return his collar is one of those choices. It ignites an essential dialogue on clergy accountability and the urgent necessity of safeguarding our most vulnerable members within religious institutions. The conditions surrounding his resignation have created concern over the oversight and possible weaknesses that were lingering in such an environment.