Archbishop Eugene Marino, the nation's highest-ranking black Roman Catholic, decided to resign because of the "pall of possible disclosure" hanging over his relationship with a young woman, a church official said.
Bishop James P. Lyke confirmed reports at a news conference Thursday that Marino became romantically involved with Vicki R. Long, a 27-year-old lay minister, shortly after he took over the Atlanta Archdiocese in May 1988.Marino, 56, resigned July 10, citing personal and health reasons, including a need for spiritual, medical and psychological therapy. "That was true," Lyke said of Marino's reasons for resigning. "What was not
announced, however, was that the personal reasons involved an intimate relationship with a woman."
When reporters asked Lyke whether Marino broke his vow of celibacy by having sexual relations, Lyke said, "I cannot say that in a two-year relationship that x, y, z occurred."
Lyke, who took over the Atlanta archdiocese after Marino's unexpected departure, said the tall, bespectacled clergyman had authorized him to confirm the affair after Atlanta television station WAGA aired the report.
Lyke, the auxiliary bishop of Cleveland, is expected to be named the next archbishop of Atlanta.
He said the church learned about the relationship in mid-April from a source whose identity he refused to divulge, and Marino confirmed the allegation.
"There will be those who will contend that the personal details being made public today should have been made public earlier," Lyke said. "Under the circumstances, however, there seemed no way to do that, and I believe thoughtful people will agree."