Defrocked priest's disturbing letter emerges after he 'flees to Italy with teen'
The hunt is still on for the defrocked 30-year-old priest who is accused of grooming a teenage girl, then fleeing to Italy with her when she turned 18.
A disturbing letter released by the Mobile County Sheriff's Office in Mobile, Alabama, where Reverend Alexander Crow preached, provides insight into the authorities' concern.
Crow is wanted by the authorities and being investigated for predatory behaviour after a love letter surfaced between him and the then-underaged student, who attended the same high school he did.
The letter revealed by the police, which was addressed to Joshua, allegedly one of the teen girl's loved ones, details his decision to flee and attempts to justify it by calling it the will of Jesus.
Alexander Crow preached at Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile, Alabama (Extraordinary Faith/facebook)"It will be hard for you to understand what I'm doing, but do not worry. It will all make sense one day," the letter began after explaining that Crow had written it on behalf of the girl, who reportedly dictated to him what to write. He also added that he trusts Joshua and that Joshua is also allegedly trusted by the teen — whose name has not yet been released.
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"Jesus told me that He wants me to leave, therefore I am not going to return from this trip," he wrote, saying it's a decision he made "with a heavy heart." "This is what He is demanding, and I cannot deny Him," he added.
Alexander Crow was considered a heartthrob my many — until he ran off with a teen girl (Archdiocese of Mobile)The letter also states that Crow doesn't intend to leave the priesthood, calling it "the greatest gift Jesus has ever given" him and something he will cherish forever. "I will never forsake my sacred duties," he wrote.
But he specified that his role isn't his but that of Jesus and said: "He can do with me as He pleases. I regularly tell him, 'Jesus, help me do your will. Nothing more. Nothing less.' He has heard this prayer, and He is asking everything from me. Let His will be done."
Crow adds that the teen was also asked to journey with Crow and states: "We know how this looks, but we are doing what we are told. Do not worry about defending us. This is hard for her, too, but she knows she will always be safe if she does Jesus' will."
Mobile authorities are still on the hunt for the priest, who fled to Italy. He's been labeled a predator (archdiocese of mobile)The letter ends by telling Joshua and anyone else who reads it that Crow and the girl will be praying for them and their families and leaves readers with seven harrowing words: "Pray for us, too. We need it."
The letter, along with others tied to the investigation, have the authorities and the girl's family member concerned for her safety.
The girl and Crow headed to Italy, and shortly thereafter, her parents followed to convince her to come home. She allegedly told them she went of her own volition and denied any romantic relationship with Crow.
"His behaviour is totally unbecoming of a priest," Archbishop Thomas Rodi said in a statement last month when the priest was defrocked by the Archdiocese of Mobile, where he worked in the Corpus Christi Parish. "He has been informed by the archbishop that he may no longer exercise ministry as a priest, nor to tell people he is a priest, nor to dress as a priest."
The investigation is continuing in Alabama.
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