The parishioners of the church of Brignoles, in the Var, are stunned. On Sunday morning, it was Father Lionel Dalle, vicar general of the diocese of Toulon, who celebrated mass in place of the local priest, reports Var-MorningA few days earlier, the latter had in fact presented his resignation, which was accepted.
But for what reason? “He lived in contradiction with the commitments that were his, in particular that of celibacy,” indicated the vicar general, who read a letter from Monsignor Touvet, coadjutor bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, at the beginning of the ceremony. Before detailing: “Some already knew it, others are learning it today. Father Gerson was having an inappropriate relationship with an adult, married woman.”
The newlywed “shocked for life”
To spice things up, the daily newspaper specifies that the priest himself had married his lover a few months ago. Enough to “shock for life” the young groom who confided his dismay to our colleagues. “I am a very religious person. I even had the Virgin Mary tattooed on my left forearm. I lived with my wife for seventeen years. We raised two children, including a daughter together. I remarried in church three months ago. I could never have imagined that what happened would happen,” he indicated.
While waiting for the Vatican’s decision on the future of the priest of Brignoles within the Church, a priest from the diocese will take over as interim leader in the parish, which is still reeling from this story of adultery.