A lawsuit says the Rev. Joseph Matt was providing "spiritual counseling, comfort, mentoring and advice” to a married woman, but the priest's comforting allegedly went a lot further. The woman's husband and three children are suing the diocese and the priest after he says a paternity test revealed that a child he raised as his own for seven years was actually Matt's child.
KCTV5 reported that the husband found out that the child wasn't his son on the child's birthday.
The lawsuit alleges that Matt "preyed upon [the woman’s] vulnerability” and “had unlawful sexual intercourse” with her after she lost her job.
The lawsuit alleges that the diocese's silence about the alleged affair amounted to "fraud" on the man's family. The husband alleges that church officials “offered no pastoral support” to the family and allowed Matt to “remain in service.”
The husband and wife are now divorcing.
KCTV5 reported that the husband alerted the diocese about the affair a year ago. The church told the TV station that Matt acknowledged the affair and the paternity test. Bishop Finn reportedly apologized to the husband and offered to pay for counseling.
Matt is currently working for St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Independence where he helps Catholics seeking divorce figure out whether they can get their marriages annulled.
If it's true, it's another betrayal, courtesy of church leadership.
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To Abe....true that....compounding adultery with murder would be wrong....it's the cover up that get's you......ask Bill Clinton.
Many priests who get involved with women are good priests but they have one weakness - women. If the Church will allow these priests to get married, they won't create sex scandals and would remain good priests.
Hi Fr. Tom - I understand your comment - and I respect the conditions of priesthood - but I think maybe The Church centuries ago by mandating celibacy only solved one problem without fully understanding the unintended consequenses of celibacy...Celibacy was not a prerequisite for Jesus and could eventually be dropped by The Church(we do have SOME married priest now)...If that time ever comes in my lifetime, I will accept it...PEACE...ps. I personally don't believe sexual intercourse between two unmarried is a Major sin. Recommended No. (and that kinda gives you an insight into my personal life)
@ Kathy DeSchepper Hogan - - - When men enter priesthood they know beforehand that marriage & sex are off limits; the nuns know this is true for them, too. This info is known upfront and NEVER a surprise. Married priests and nuns offering masses are NOT the answers. Priests do not "deserve" to marry at all, period...they have KNOWINGLY entered a life of service to the Church and made the sacrificial offering of not having sex or family of their own. What the Vatican and hierarchy need to do is to be more selective and picky about who gets in, like they used to be...any Tom, Dick or Harry; pedo-perv, thief or philanderer can get in the seminary these days!!
What happen to our some priests in modern world? The have involved for many immoral issues that indeed reflect on their being as servant of God and of the people. I hope the Vatican will not tolerate this and take quick action to resolve these matters.
What happen to our some priests in modern world? They have involved for many immoral issues that indeed reflect on their being as servant of God and of the people. I hope the Vatican will not tolerate this and take quick action for these matters.
David J - - matt did a bit more than COVET the woman - he admitted he had intercourse with her - but he said it was not love, " it was just sex " !
At the root of the problem is the Rev. Matt coveted another mans wife. Something you would have to go to him to confess your sin who did he confess to?
When Bishop Finn is thrown in jail, the mafia will try to recruit him. Nobody covers up for the bad guys better than this guy.
Catholic priests are men and nuns are women. If the Vacatian would allow priests to marry and nuns to perform masses, part of this problem would be resolved. None of us are perfect and the closest one I know that walked this earth was nailed to a cross many years ago. It is our church hierarchy that created this problem in the 3rd century. Priests deserve to marry.
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