| Pastor Larry McGovern is accused of sending a photo of his genitals to a man |
A married man has filed a lawsuit after receiving disturbing photos from a priest.
The married man of California, said that he was employed at the Presentation Church and School, when he was harassed by the priest.
John Manly, who is the attorney for the man bringing the lawsuit, said that he worked as a maintenance man for the pool and the water fountains on the church grounds for the past seven years.
However, the man in his 40s said that while he cleaned the pool, Pastor Lawrence McGovern would often sunbathe and make flirtatious comments towards him.
He would be “lying around in a speedo, making our client very uncomfortable,” Manly said.
Things took a turn for the worse when the priest allegedly sent the victim a photo of his private parts. The married man was so disturbed by the incident, that he filed a police report.
Soon after filing the report, the victim was fired from his job, but McGovern was allowed to continue working.
Manly said that after sending his client the offensive photo, the priest sent him other text messages saying: “Oops, sorry about that. The curse of the Internet. Shame on me. What is my penance?”
The employee wrote back: “I thought you were celibate, Monsignor.”
McGovern allegedly responded: ”But it is not me–celibate means not married, sometimes I get the wrong images.”
After the lawsuit became public, McGovern was placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.