Catholic priest sacked for marrying his secretary

A Roman Catholic priest has been sacked from his New York diocese after he married his secretary.

Father Timothy Pasek had served at St Adalbert’s church in Brooklyn for ten years.

‘‘After he married, he continued to perform his priest functions, including celebrating Mass and presiding over a funeral Mass,’’ said diocese spokesman Frank DeRosa said. ‘‘We’re just in shock and terribly disappointed.’’

Roman Catholic clergy take a vow of celibacy and are forbidden to marry.

Pasek married Darlene Smith on April 24, and the couple have moved to Arizona in July with Smith’s 14-year-old son, DeRosa said.

He said Pasek had been relieved of his pastoral duties on Easter Sunday because ‘‘he had a potential serious health problem,’’ rumoured to be a tumour.

But after word of the marriage, Pasek was dismissed from the Conventual Franciscans order.