Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dutch Catholic Priest, 81, Fights His Suspension; Won't Stop Living with His 85-Year-Old Girlfriend

An 81-year-old Catholic priest -- expelled from the priesthood because he lives with his 85-year-old girlfriend -- says he may take his case to the European Court of Human Rights, the Dutch News website reports today (December 6, 2011).

Jan Peijnenburg -- who has lived with his girlfriend for 46 years -- received a letter on December 3, telling him he has been suspended because he refuses to leave his partner.

Peijnenburg is now seeking legal advice to determine "if the rights of the church conflict with the rights of the citizen."

Rik Torfts -- a professor of religious rights -- said the suspended priest has little chance of success, because freedom of religion laws have priority over the right to marriage.

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