A DISGRACED priest who had a fling with a mum-of-four was given a
second chance by the Catholic church after promising to return to
celibacy, it was revealed last night.
Patrick Udoma had an eight-month relationship with Emma Templeton
while working at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Weoley Castle,
Birmingham.
The affair only came to light when the female chaplain made a bogus rape claim against the 45 year-old clergyman.
She received a suspended sentence at Birmingham Crown Court last week after a police investigation found that she had lied.
The Nigerian priest suffered the humiliation of being arrested
during a funeral and spent 23 hours in a prison cell before eventually
being cleared.
The Archdiocese of Birmingham suspended Fr Udoma after the rape
claim was made, but he was allowed to return to Coventry parish after
making a new vow of celibacy.
Peter Jennings, spokesman for the Archdiocese, said: “Fr Patrick
Udoma was removed from public ministry in April 2010 pending police
investigations.
“He remained out of public ministry for a period of three months.
During this time the Archdiocese of Birmingham both required and
assisted him to reflect on his personal behaviour.