Alabama: Woman who alleged priest paid her for sex beginning at 17 says there’s ‘no real winner’ after his resignation

The woman who publicly alleged that she was 17 when a longtime Roman Catholic priest in Alabama successfully offered her financial support in exchange for sex and other forms of private companionship – recently prompting him to resign from the clergy – says “there is no real winner in this situation”.

In her first remarks since Robert “Bob” Sullivan’s self-imposed removal from the priesthood was announced by his church superiors, Heather Jones wrote in a statement that the only thing she gained was “truth finally coming to light after years of gaslighting myself into thinking it wasn’t a big deal”.

“I am experiencing a lot of mixed emotions,” Jones’s statement added. “My hope now is for healing, accountability and protection for anyone who has ever been harmed by someone powerful.”