Father Stephen Crossan: 37-Year-Old Catholic Priest Admits Nazi Fare, Cocaine Use After Viral Video


Father Stephen Crossan is a priest who is going viral for all the wrong reasons. There’s a video going viral purporting to show the Roman Catholic priest indulging in a line of cocaine. The shocking part is that the drug use occurs within a house were Crossan resides, which in on church grounds.

As reported by the Sun, the 37-year-old Crossan has admitted to doing drugs, with Father Stephen claiming his cocaine use only happened the one evening that was caught on video. Crossan said that he doesn’t have a problem with drugs, nor does he claim to have any sort of cocaine addiction. On the video, Crossan seems to think twice about doing drugs and say that he shouldn’t do the line of cocaine prior to snorting the drug on camera.

“It was just the one night and that was it. I do not have an issue with drugs.”

The drug use happened at a party at Crossan’s home when a group of partygoers remained for a whopping seven hours prior to the partiers being asked to leave the home. Crossan had already been on a bender for two days, with the video footage reportedly happening after Crossan had asked his friends over to the parish home.

What’s gaining controversy as well with the Crossan situation is the Nazi memorabilia that can be seen on the Sun, with the publication displaying Nazi fare like hats and flags and an eagle donning a hateful swastika symbol on a mantelpiece’s plinth. They are odd symbols indeed to associate with a place that preaches love as the highest command.

It was a much different image of Stephen when he was interviewed by the Belfast Telegraph, where Crossan spoke of changes in the church and society and how to keep up with making the public feel included in the church.

“It’s getting smaller and society is changing. So we have to adapt as well to try to move on with the times and be more open and more inclusive with people. We are in a period of transition and flux and we need patience and courage to go ahead into the future and not be afraid. But for me the most important thing is that the doors are open and that young people know they are welcome and that we are here if they need us. [Resurrection Sunday is] the culmination of the whole liturgical year. We have a number of very special Masses and vigils remembering the Lord’s sacrifices leading up to tomorrow’s services to celebrate the resurrection. One of the highlights for me is the Mass of the Chrism on Holy Thursday in Newry Cathedral where the bishop blesses the holy oils for use in services for the year ahead and where all the priests in the diocese renew their vows.”

About the drug controversy, a source for the Sun claimed that Stephen initially posed as a social worker but ended up admitting he was a priest to those who saw Crossan downing beers and Jack Daniels along with the cocaine.

The Nazi items were chalked up to the fact that Crossan claimed to be a collector of historical things. However, Stephen wore the offensive hat and even performed the Nazi salute — actions that are being called shocking. Saint Patrick’s Church in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, is the location of the home where Crossan — who was a former chaplain at a prison — was filmed. Crossan suffered from depression and was on sick leave when the video was recorded, having departed from the church but still being supported through his difficult times.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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