You're not in love, you're in lust because he's considered "off limits". I don't think it would be wise to get involved with someone who is living a lie (flirting priest), because you don't know what other lies he's holding. If he's committed to the priesthood, he shouldn't be flirting or winking at you.

Decide whether you love him or are in lust with him, because I'm guessing the job opportunities for a priest who leaves the priesthood aren't many, and if you draw him out and change your mind, that'd be pretty irresponsible. Friend of my sister's went to Catholic school, and the girls in her class were always teasing one of the teachers because he was an attractive young man (Father Whatawaste, a friend tells me is the common term), asking whether he reeeeally had to be celibate and did he reeeeally want to make that choice, and he'd stammer and blush and try to get the lesson back on track. Before the end of the school year, he "ran away with" (I don't know how literal that is, what the rules are) one of the young nuns.

I'm going to answer despite my serious doubts about the validity of your question If this priest is IN FACT behaving in this way you need to do one of two things: 1. Tell him that his behavior is inappropriate for a Catholic Priest and recommend he either curb his sexually aggressive behavior until he can determine his future with the Church or if he can't do that to leave the priesthood altogether. If he still wants to serve the church he could always do so in a lay capacity that doesn't require a vow of celibacy. 2. Go to the Arch-diocese for guidance. If this priest is in fact acting in the manner that you are claiming, he should not be the spiritual leader of a parish. He needs to be removed while struggles with the difficult decision regarding his future with the Church and his vows. Regardless, It is not in your best interest to become romatically involved with this man. Either he is truly a good man struggling with his vows, he is a sexual predator who never should have been ordained in the first place, or you are delusional and his "advances" are a complete fantasy.....whichever way the cookie crumbles, it doesn't exactly sound like the foundation of a healthy "relationship"

This is totally inappropriate behaviour from both yourself and the priest, lets face it if you can't trust a priest then who on earth can you trust, its fantasy, nothing more and wrong.

If you care about him why would want to jeopardize his future>? If he would leave and become (whatever) but out of the Church and no longer a priest, then that would be different. He might be having second thoughts about the price that comes with being a Priest but don't add anything that might sway his decision, in fact I would say avoid him. If it's something that is meant to be it will happen but don't add spice that later he might regret and you also.

I have been in an affair with a priest for two years. I am not Christian so I did not know what I was getting myself into. He was like your priest, flirting with me and at the same time evangelizing his faith to me during our intellectual discussions. This made him love me and at some point I wanted to become a Christian. He confessed his love to me, started an affair and you know the rest. Problem is that the church did not allow him to get married to me; otherwise he will have to leave priesthood. Result: He did not leave them because he claims that he has a call from God which is more important than me and said that maybe God had wanted him to experience love with a woman but then return to God. So I was basically a fling or an entertainment. That left me helpless, heartbroken, dumped, and even had me question my faith in God. I have been crying everyday for the last 2 years and my prayers to have this man back so that we can serve God remain unanswered. I wish to die. My advice to you: Run away! The priest I loved also used to talk about second thoughts; they do this in the beginning to make you love them, but after they get what they want from you, they suddenly feel the urge to serve god and become Saints and probably ask you to forgive them! Watch The Thorn Birds (1983) and you'll see that for yourself. If you still want him, don't give in yourself and play it hard on him until he actually leaves priesthood. Before that, don't fall for him. And as for the other commentators here who think it is Satan-like to make a man leave priesthood, my answer to them is this: Do you prefer seeing your priest dumping a woman's heart and killing her, just so he could be around to serve you? Is this fair? Is marriage a sin or a temptation from Satan? Of course not. Sara Abram

Is he older? How old are you? I fell in love with a priest in my parish when I was fifteen years old. (He was about early 40s) I moved away, and saw him 20 years later. I still had an extreme attraction towards him, in fact, it was even stronger. I think he maybe attracted to me, too, though he never acted inappropriately in any way. I decided to direct my feelings towards a great friendship with him. I am close to him now, and his friendship means very much to me. I never told him about the desire I am experiencing. I think to do so would just ruin all I have with him now. He worked all his life to build his ministry, and who am I to jeopardize it. Whenever I begin to have thoughts that are less than pure about him, I pray, and they go away. Whenever I would allow myself to daydream romantically about him, I would feel so quilty afterwards... He is an amazing person, and I would rather have him as a good friend, than nothing at all... He once told me that he had opportunities to stray, but I didn't have the nerve to ask if he had... I simply said that I didn't doubt it (He is extremely good looking, and has such an illuminating personality) I was burning with curiosity, and, I must admit, hope. Good luck...

ahh, he shouldn't be flirting. I too have a deep emotional connection with my priest. BUT. I would never want to be a mistake. As a Christian < I need to put God first-for him and for me.

I have been in love with my priest friend for some time now. he has no idea, i think. I denied it for a very long time fearing damnation, but I just can't keep lying to myself. I wish I knew if he was attracted to me too. We meet infrequently, but I always look forward to each time. I am so afraid of telling him how I feel about him fearing that I will lose him all together. If being his friend is all I can have, I'll take it. I car eabout him too much to jeopardize our existing relationship. But, I am burning with desire for him. I wonder if he has ever been with a woman. If he has, than he might not feel so bad about doing again :) I am crazy for feeling this way, but I just do. Should i reveal my feelings to him? (BTW he is in his 60s, I in my 30s, and we are both attractive)

i too am in love with a priest...he is so hot and we are such good friends...but now all I think about is making love to him everywhere in his house...like all the time...I am married to a wonderful man so I don't understand why I want my priest so badly...seriously, it is consumming me...

My guess is, if his boundaries in that area are so weak, then you are not the only person he is giving those signals to. I believe you are probably one of a few, if not more.

Dear friend, Let me give you a practical answer like a big sister. I know your situation very well. The Catholic priests are fantastic. They are intelligent, warm, religious, loving, well-educated and many of them are also in a good shape. Some of them are even very sexy. I have fallen in love with a priest once, but I never told him about it. If you are Catholic, you should think more of the Church and your faith than your feelings. An affair with a Catholic priest is a sin. The Church needs every priest badly, they have too few priests anyway. Therefore it is very selfish from you to even think about flirting with a priest. Moreover, it is very unreasonable. He has chosen his way a long time ago - don't disturb his peace. And even if you think he could leave his "job" as a priest and marry you in a civil ceremony, you would have enormous problems. If he is a priest, he is religious and would not feel himself well in a civil marriage without the blessing of the Church. Moreover, he would lose his job. What would you do with a workless ex-priest? Seriously: stop seeing and contacting this guy for 2-3 months. I mean: NO CONTACT AT ALL. Maybe you like him only because you know he is not available. A crush almost never lasts longer than 2-3 months if you do not have any contact with the person you are in love with. No contact, and try to find yourself someone who is AVAILABLE!

If you play with fire you both will be burned. Think about the consequenses for both of you.

My question to you. Are you a male or female (you do not need to answer)? If a male, then the priest is a pervert; if you are either underage male or female, then the priest is a pervert. Best thing to do is not go to this church, find a different church if possible and wait to see if this priest ever makes a decision as to whether he wants to continue as a priest or leave the priesthood. If he leaves the priesthood he still can stay as a minister of another religion, if they accept him.

This scenario sets the red flags a-flying, so I hope this post is a fake (but I will still try to help you in case your problem is a genuine). Like the others, I question his trustworthiness. I'm assuming you are a devout person, so you probably realize that he's breaking his vows to the church. He may be following the letter of the law by not having sex with you, but he has broken the spirit of the law by entertaining sexual thoughts. Furthermore, since he can't keep his commitment to the priesthood, how do you know that he would in turn be fully committed to you if you managed to date him? Most importantly, even if he did leave the church to be with you, you may eventually feel guilty because he gave up his calling for you.

If you want to. Just remember that he will probably leave you once you start shaving.