Alex Crow has been formally laicized — or removed — from the priesthood, the Archdiocese of Mobile announced in a statement Friday.

The Archdiocese said the now-former priest is no longer a member of the clergy, as confirmed in a letter from Pope Francis.

Crow, 30, and Taylor Victoria Harrison, 18, were the subject of a months-long church scandal after the two left Mobile for Europe not long after Harrison had graduated from McGill-Toolen High School, where Crow had often served as a guest lecturer.

They remained there for roughly four months while both the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and Mobile County District Attorney’s Office conducted what would ultimately be fruitless investigations into possible wrongdoing by the former priest in the Archdiocese of Mobile.

After learning of Crow’s departure with Harrison, the archdiocese stripped him of his duties, saying he had “abandoned his assignment.”

Crow and Harrison returned to Mobile in early November and, according to court records, were married later that month.

In its statement Friday, the Archdiocese noted Crow himself initiated the process for his own laicization, although Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi had said in August he “saw no way back to the priesthood for Crow, considering his scandalous behavior.”

Under Catholic canon, a bishop can begin the process for laicization after a priest has been absent from his duties for six months, or the priest can request laicization at any time. Crow made his request before the six-month period had expired.

The Archdiocese said it supported Crow’s request and noted Pope Francis’ decision is final, with no avenue of appeal.

“I pray that this decision is one more way in which we can all move forward toward peace after these unsettling events,” Rodi said. “I continue to pray for God’s grace to bring healing for all.”