He's the handsome priest known to millions of TV viewers for his appearances as a commentator on CBS and NBC. Now, he's admitting to having fathered a child with a woman in his past. INSIDE EDITION reports.
One of the nation's best known priests is now caught up in a shocking scandal.
Reverend Thomas Williams admits he fathered a child, even as he was the high-profile face of the Catholic Church to millions of TV viewers.
Father Williams appeared frequently as a commentator on both CBS and NBC, often broadcasting live from the Vatican.
He was also the author of Knowing Right From Wrong: A Christian Guide to Conscience.
Now he's confessing that he had a relationship with a woman and fathered a child "a number of years ago."
He apologized in a statement "for this grave transgression," saying, "I am truly sorry to everyone who is hurt by this revelation, and I ask for your prayers as I seek guidance on how to make up for my errors."
Father Williams has taken a year off to "reflect," and is reportedly staying with his parents in Michigan.
His religious order, the Legion Of Christ, says it's sorry it didn't act "earlier and more firmly" to remove him as the television priest.
