This man was my hometown parish priest. He did my first communion. He buried my grandpa, my grandma and my dad and YEARS later he spoke at my Uncle Bill’s funeral.

He wouldn’t allow me to get confirmed, because I wasn’t attending Mass enough (as a 16 year old who just lost her father, had a mother that in his eyes “left the church” when she remarried and yet still drove myself and my brother to weekly CCD class.) That was the beginning of the end of my relationship with the Catholic church.

Gut punch.

It makes my stomach turn. Far, far, far, far, far too many people affected. And the coverup and allowing priests to still serve? Astounding. So unacceptable

I also admit, I’ve looked for his name on lists that have come out in the past. Always had an uneasy feeling about him. But LOVED My Grandma Smith and her love of the church and wanted to follow her path.