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Some stories just sound like terrible jokes. But this one is all too real. WBZ reports that a priest from Boston got arrested last Friday for stalking Conan O'Brien.
Pardon us for using the words "priest" and "hell" in the same post, but, seriously, what the hell? You couldn't make that up. And the Archdiocese of Boston took its own sweet time to release the news. They waited until today to announce that Reverend David Ajemian, 46, has been placed on leave.
According to police, Ajemian allegedly sent "multiple communications to Conan O'Brien over 14 months." He tried to get into a taping of "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." Perhaps he thought he could cheer O'Brien up since the writers were going on strike.
E! News had an excerpt from one of Ajemian's letters, which he allegedly liked to sign "Padre":
I’m told by some of those officious little usher people that you’re overbooked. Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans? You owe me big-time pal. I want a public confession before I ever consider giving you absolution—or [I want] a spot on your couch.
A Google search showed that Ajemian was a new priest at St. Patrick's in Stoneham in 2006. According to WBZ, he left in 2007 and wasn't reassigned. An article in the Stoneham Independent says that Ajemian attended Milton and Harvard and held a variety of jobs before pursuing the priesthood at age 30. It is difficult to imagine how a priest could go from ministering to others to stalking a late-night TV host. Really, a little part of us hopes we're wrong and that it was a big misunderstanding.
All charges alleged until proven under law. Image of Conan O'Brien from Wikipedia.
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I hope that part of you is very small, because I hope this story is all true!! Who better for a Catholic priest to stalk? Conan is as Irish as they come. Good God I love it (excuse the pun of course)
Talking about Confession and Absolution "in public" would indicate to me that he was speaking tongue-in-cheek. Either the guy has totally lost it or Conan misunderstood him. No priest would threaten to break the seal of confession, (you think journalists are discreet?) In my experience, priests with late vocations are great communicators, having experienced the real world. I can picture a priest saying to me the words quoted, with a wry sideways look. (Remember the TV show "Wiseguy"? Vinny's priest/brother would regularly break his balls). May just be one of those people who misconstrue themselves to be in a closer relationship than actually exists.
(Or, he may just be crazy as a loon.)
Conan obviously felt he needed the publicity. He could have easily asked his priest friend Paul to talk to Ajemian if he felt so threatened. I think Conan's a creep!