Beast priest hit on more By GERARD McMANUS 16mar03
SEVERAL more women have come forward to reveal their relationships with disgraced Uniting Church minister Rev George Crombie.
One woman said Crombie swooped on her at her mother's funeral, while another explained how he led her to believe she was the only woman in his life.
Last week, the Sunday Herald Sun revealed the secret life of the philandering cleric, including multiple affairs with single and married women, and an extravagant lifestyle, including overseas trips sometimes paid for by the women he had seduced.
One woman, who had a dying alcoholic partner, came to Crombie's church for help, but he moved on her instead.
Rev Crombie said the woman was "his soulmate" and they began a romantic relationship.
But after she refused to have sex with him, she said he became very cold.
Another woman described how Rev Crombie moved on her at her mother's funeral.
"He took my telephone number for counselling purposes," Robyn said. "Shortly after, he telephoned and arranged to take me out to dinner.
"He was a glutton at the table, relishing copious amounts of food and alcohol, calling himself a food and wine connoisseur. He was little like any minister of the church I had met."
Another woman said Crombie took advantage of her when she was having marital troubles, again offering counselling and taking advantage of her at a vulnerable time.
"I trusted him completely, but was deeply, deeply hurt when I found out he had other women," she said.
Rev Crombie has admitted to serial affairs at several Uniting Church ministries around Melbourne. The church's synod is expected to remove his faculties as a minister.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6132480%255E2862,00.html
