• Source:JND
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A Catholic priest, aged 61, in Alabama, is being investigated for allegedly having a sexual affair with a stripper who was 17 years old and paying her almost USD 400,000 to keep it a secret, as reported by The Guardian.

Robert Sullivan, the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood, Alabama, has been accused by Heather Jones, 33, of starting a relationship with her in 2009 when she was still a teenager employed at a strip club, Sullivan regularly visited. According to Jones, Sullivan, who initially presented himself as a doctor, made financial offers in return for "private companionship," which involved sexual activities. She stated that his persistence and her vulnerable circumstances led her to agree.

Massive Payments In Wire Transfers And Venmo

Jones said she received two wire transfers, each for USD 136,500, amounting to USD 273,000, in an attorney's office on a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). She also claimed Sullivan sent almost USD 120,000 to her through over 125 Venmo payments between July 2024 and March 2025. Jones also alleged Sullivan gave her a phone, paid for her rehab treatments, and bought her out to eat, shop, and to hotels in at least six cities in Alabama for years. She provided bank statements, email communications from Sullivan's church email address, and an unsigned NDA as proof.

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Sullivan, a priest for more than 32 years, had served as president of John Carroll High School for six years before being put on personal leave while the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham conducts an independent review. Birmingham Diocese Bishop Steven Raica said that there is not enough evidence to justify a criminal investigation, but a diocesan investigation is underway as per Church law and policy. The allegations have also been brought to the attention of the Vatican. "The diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator has continued to provide appropriate support to the woman who brought forth the allegations," Bishop Raica told The Guardian.

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Jones said she stepped forward because she did not want others to be at risk of the same exploitation, especially since Sullivan still has close dealings with families and children at his church.