A WOMAN who rocked the Catholic Church by marrying a priest has published a book about her taboo love affair.

Eileen Quinn's book "A Love Forbidden" tells the true story of how she risked the wrath of the Catholic Church and losing her family and friends to let love conquer all.

Eileen was a divorced mother-of-four when she met Tony Quinn, the new young Irish priest at St Mary's Church, Bacup.

She was just getting over the break-up of her marriage to a Burnley detective and had moved with her children to live with her parents in Bacup.

Father Tony and Eileen became friends through their shared love of music, but friendship soon turned into something much more.

Eileen, of Brooklands, Waterfoot, said: "We were under such immense pressure at the time. When I told my dad about me and Tony he said it was like sitting on a timebomb waiting for it to go off.

"It was as if the pressure of the situation enveloped us and we could almost touch it. Tony told the bishop about us and he was moved to a church in Failsworth. But it still didn't keep us apart and we carried on meeting." The scandal of the priest and the divorcee made headlines all over the country, but the couple defied the odds and eventually married at Todmorden Register Office in October 1976.

Eileen said: "Going back to Bacup the day after we were married was very daunting. Tony was so well-known in the town and such a popular priest. Some people stared and wouldn't talk to us, but most people were friendly and supportive and we got so many letters, cards and gifts."

Tony moved into Eileen's home on the Fairview Estate and worked on the markets while studying for a degree. The couple had two children of their own, Paul, now 21, and Helen 19, and Tony now runs a successful accountancy firm in Bacup.

Eileen said: "When other people read this book they say it raises so many questions about celibacy in the Catholic Church and other issues. But to me it is just the true story of what happened to me and Tony. It has taken me 15 years to complete the book and find a publisher, but I'm glad that I've done it."

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