For decades, Maria Grazia Filipucci carried on a secret love affair with a Catholic priest. They met as children and became friends, but when he turned 14, his parents sent him off to seminary. They stayed in touch, and as adults began a romantic relationship. Through periods of separation and togetherness, she had to navigate the emotional complexity of loving a man bound by a religious vow of celibacy. 

Filipucci wasn't alone. Over a decade ago, a group of Italian women went public about their secret relationships with priests. They wanted to break their silence to challenge the church's stance on celibacy and expose the emotional toll these hidden affairs have on everyone involved. 

This week on Storylines, "Unfaithful", a doc from CBC’s Rome-based correspondent, Megan Williams, about the heartbreak of falling in love with a priest.

Produced by Megan Williams and Joan Webber / original aired on The Current in 2014

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit