Alabama priest leaves clergy after woman alleges ‘private companionship’ beginning when she was 17

Robert Sullivan's self-imposed removal comes after accusations he provided financial support in exchange for arrangement which included sex

A longtime Roman Catholic priest in Alabama has voluntarily left the clergy after a woman alleged to his superiors that he provided her financial support in exchange for private companionship" including sex beginning when she was 17.

Robert Sullivan's self-imposed removal from the priesthood - known as laicization - was announced Wednesday, the day before the US holiday of Thanksgiving, in a public statement from Birmingham, Alabama, by Bishop Steven Raica.