An Alabama priest has been stripped of his priesthood by the Pope after he fled to Italy and married an 18 year old.
Alex Crow, 30, fled the United States to marry the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The Archdiocese of Mobile "received notice that the laicization of Alex Crow is complete, effective immediately."
Crow had previously requested he be removed from the priesthood. The request was recently granted by Pope Francis.
Crow met his wife at McGill-Toolen High in Mobile
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Crow would regularly deliver guest lectures to the students at McGill-Toolen High in Mobile where he would meet his now wife.
The Archdiocese became aware of Crow's questionable courtship when local law enforcement got their hands on Valentine's Day love letters the priest had sent to the teen.
One letter said: "First things first: I love you, and I thank Jesus for you every day. You have made my life both astronomically more complicated and incredibly better at the same time. You are his gift to me."
Archbishop Rodi condemned the relationship at the time, calling Crow's behavior 'totally unbecoming of a priest.' Among other issues, priests in the Catholic Church are ordered to maintain a state of celibacy.
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Pope Francis granted the request
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Crow has reportedly long had a fascination with demonology, He had fled to Europe with his young lover and told people he was headed across the Atlantic to perform exorcisms across Europe.
Last summer Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said he believes there was 'some grooming that's gone on,' between Crow and his teenage wife.
Prior to the sheriff's statement, Crow had fled to Europe with his young lover. When the pair returned from abroad, they got married in Alabama.
According to the findings of local law enforcement, Crow, who claims to have been exorcised as a child, had told his lover that Jesus instructed him to leave with her. Crow married the Mobile teen on November 17.
A statement from the Archdiocese said: "'While Crow's behavior has been scandalous, the Archdiocese does not have any information to indicate that Crow has committed any crime.
"To the extent law enforcement is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Crow's behavior, the Archdiocese will continue to cooperate fully.
"If law enforcement has closed their investigation of Crow, the Archdiocese thanks them for their thorough and thoughtful attention to this matter.
"Crow's sudden departure created scandal, hurt, and confusion within the Archdiocese. We continue to pray for God's grace to bring healing to this situation for everyone."
