A new low for Catholics

[David Guyatt]

I'm not normally lost for words but Christ!

A new form of Simony perhaps?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...raphy.html

25/02/2010 10:56
Spanish priest offered sexual services and spent church funds on pornography - Telegraph
Page 1 of 2
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...raphy.html


It is alleged that he spent up to 17,000 euros (£15,000) to fund his addiction to sex and
pornography Photo:

SOLARPIX
W
Spanish priest offered sexual services and spent church
funds on pornography
A Spanish priest has been sacked after it emerged he advertised himself as a male prostitute on
the internet and spent church funds on telephone sex and internet pornography.
By Fiona Govan in Madrid
Published: 9:18AM GMT 25 Feb 2010
Samuel Martin Martin, 27, the priest of
two small parishes in the central
province of Toledo, posted images of
himself posing in grey underpants and
said he was available for sex sessions
with women and couples for 120 euros
an hour.
Calling himself Hector, the priest
described himself in an online
advertisement as: "Heterosexual man
for women and couples. Real photos.
Well hung (15cm) to give you pleasure
and happiness."
The scandal has made headlines across Catholic Spain where newspapers reprinted the photo and text from the
advertisement. "I am open to everything except sadism. Hotels and private addresses. 24 hours. You won't regret it, I
will give you pleasure like never before," it said.
Mr Martin confessed to parishioners during a recent mass that he had misused their donations and asked for
forgiveness.
He had served less than a year as parish priest at the two villages of Totanes and Noez, which have a combined
population of fewer than 1000 people.
The Archbishop of Toledo has launched an investigation and confirmed only that Mr Martin had been dismissed for
"financial irregularities detected in the parish".
It is alleged that he spent up to 17,000 euros (£15,000) to fund his addiction to sex and pornography.
The revelations have come as a severe embarrassment to the Spanish Church which is already struggling with falling
attendance in the traditionally Catholic country.
Two representatives of the Archbishop of Toledo, who is also the primate of Spain, told celebrants at Mr Martin's
church that they must forgive him "because he was unwell".
They said the priest, who has gone into hiding, had promised to repay the money he had stolen from the church
coffers. But locals said his behaviour had been deplorable.
"It's one thing to give in to the evil temptation of stealing," one female resident told local media. "But to then spend it
on women!"
Another villager said the revelations had come as a surprise. "He acted as pious as could be in front of us. For a man
of the cloth to behave that way is unbelievable  He should be ashamed of himself."
© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2010