Homewood priest on leave amid allegations of relationship with woman starting when she was a minor

HOMEWOOD, Ala. —

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A Catholic priest in Homewood has been granted a leave of absence pending an investigation into an alleged relationship with a woman that began when she was under the age of 18.

Father Bob Sullivan, Vicar General of the Diocese of Birmingham, announced to his congregation at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Aug. 2 that he would be taking leave from his duties effective Aug. 4, according to the Rev. Steven Raica, the Bishop of Birmingham.

The reason for Sullivan's leave, according to Raica, stems from a story published by a national media organization covering a complaint it received about an alleged personal relationship between a woman and Sullivan dating ba