Sunday, May 13, 2012

Married priest speaks of his new life

A Sydney Catholic priest who rocked the church by announcing his secret marriage has revealed he met his wife in a Philippines karaoke bar.

Church officials removed the Glenmore Park priest from his parish after he revealed to 7News that he had married in secret.

Now Father Kevin Lee is living in Manila with his new bride and says he’s happy, but misses his old work.

Father Lee first met his love Josephina in a bar called Shinju No Mori, meaning "Forest of the Pearls."

Last week, he revealed to 7News they secretly wed a year ago, sparking debate about whether priests should be allowed to marry.

Lee says he believes the church chose to ignore his marriage saying he did little to hide his relationship with Josephina.

However media reports say the head of the Diocese of Parramatta, Anthony Fisher OP, denied Father Lee's claims that most priests live double lives and that the church knew about the priest's marriage.

Last Sunday, Bishop Fisher went to Glenmore Park to officially inform the flock.

He said: "Some of you will be shocked, grieving, agog. I suppose I'm all those things myself."

Despite the big change, it wasn't only Josephina who captured his heart in the Philippines. 

He is also passionate about helping children in a local orphanage.

For years he's raised money for the underprivileged but now he can’t continue his work in a church capacity because he broke the rule of celibacy.

Priests like Father Lee don't take a vow of poverty, so he was able to buy five beachfront acres, building his dream home before going public.

"There'd be no parish in the world that would have beaches like this, a lifestyle like this."

He says he’s happy, but his wife says is concerned: "I love Kevin because he's a good person. I'm worried because I'm worried about him, his family, his friends, people thinking something bad of him."

Father Lee says he's satisfied with his new life, but if he had one wish it would be to continue his good work.

"I'd continue to minister in Glenmore Park and complete what I had to do there."

He prays that one day, church rules will allow it.