Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Louise thought long and hard before deciding to do this interview with me. As she says, she is a simple woman, but strong and hearty and convinced of the power of love. I am honored to allow her the opportunity to share her story and hope that it helps her and so many others who fight similar battles. Below are the links to her book. amazon.com/Forbidden-Love-Hearts-Crushed-Celibacy/dp/1525503278 and louiseouellet.com
Because priests are human, falling in love happens more often than the public might assume, though getting concrete data can be tricky due to the culture of privacy surrounding the priesthood.
While the Catholic Church doesn't publish a neat database of "priests who fell in love," sociologists, researchers, and advocacy groups have tracked these patterns for decades.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of priests globally have left active ministry over the last several decades to pursue marriage or relationships. Advocacy groups like CORPUS estimate that roughly 35,000 men left the priesthood to marry in the United States alone during the late 20th century.
Vatican data indicates that roughly 1,000 to 1,200 priests officially request to leave the active ministry each year worldwide. Of those who formally ask for a dispensation from their vows, church data suggests that up to 50% are already in a civil marriage or cohabitating.
There is also a subset of priests who experience romantic love or enter relationships but choose to remain in active ministry—either struggling with the vow of celibacy privately or maintaining an open secret within their community.
When a priest and a woman fall in love, the consequences ripple across their personal lives, their faith, and the institutional church. If a priest decides to pursue the relationship openly and marry, he must undergo a formal, often lengthy Vatican process called laicization (sometimes called being "returned to the lay state").
He petitions the Pope for a dispensation from his promise of celibacy. This process can take years, and until it is granted, any civil marriage is considered invalid in the eyes of the Church.
Once laicized, he is no longer permitted to celebrate Mass, administer sacraments, or wear clerical attire. For many men, this represents a profound identity crisis and a loss of their lifelong livelihood, as they must transition into the secular workforce later in life.
Because the stakes of leaving are so high, some couples choose—or feel forced—to keep their love hidden. This often results in immense emotional distress, guilt, and isolation for both the priest and the woman.
Louise thought long and hard before deciding to do this interview with me. As she says, she is a simple woman, but strong and hearty and convinced of the power of love. I am honored to allow her the opportunity to share her story and hope that it helps her and so many others who fight similar battles. Below are the links to her book. amazon.com/Forbidden-Love-Hearts-Crushed-Celibacy/dp/1525503278 and louiseouellet.com
Because priests are human, falling in love happens more often than the public might assume, though getting concrete data can be tricky due to the culture of privacy surrounding the priesthood.
While the Catholic Church doesn't publish a neat database of "priests who fell in love," sociologists, researchers, and advocacy groups have tracked these patterns for decades.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of priests globally have left active ministry over the last several decades to pursue marriage or relationships. Advocacy groups like CORPUS estimate that roughly 35,000 men left the priesthood to marry in the United States alone during the late 20th century.
Vatican data indicates that roughly 1,000 to 1,200 priests officially request to leave the active ministry each year worldwide. Of those who formally ask for a dispensation from their vows, church data suggests that up to 50% are already in a civil marriage or cohabitating.
There is also a subset of priests who experience romantic love or enter relationships but choose to remain in active ministry—either struggling with the vow of celibacy privately or maintaining an open secret within their community.
When a priest and a woman fall in love, the consequences ripple across their personal lives, their faith, and the institutional church. If a priest decides to pursue the relationship openly and marry, he must undergo a formal, often lengthy Vatican process called laicization (sometimes called being "returned to the lay state").
He petitions the Pope for a dispensation from his promise of celibacy. This process can take years, and until it is granted, any civil marriage is considered invalid in the eyes of the Church.
Once laicized, he is no longer permitted to celebrate Mass, administer sacraments, or wear clerical attire. For many men, this represents a profound identity crisis and a loss of their lifelong livelihood, as they must transition into the secular workforce later in life.
Because the stakes of leaving are so high, some couples choose—or feel forced—to keep their love hidden. This often results in immense emotional distress, guilt, and isolation for both the priest and the woman.
