A woman who sought counsel from a priest of the Diocese of Charleston about her marital troubles has filed suit against the priest and the diocese, alleging that the priest groomed her for a relationship. “Voluntary consent by the parishioner in such a relationship is suspect, given the fundamental asymmetric nature of the relationship,” according to the suit.

Father Wilbroad Mwape, who came to the US from Zambia, has been placed on leave.