Bad Father Just Wants to be Good Daddy

The priest who was given equal custody yesterday to the two-year-old daughter he fathered said he is now focusing on becoming the best father he can be.

"He's very pleased that this ordeal is behind him and that now he can move forward," said his attorney Raymond Rafool. "[This ordeal] affected him as a parent as well as personally, and he's just thankful the truth prevailed."

Rafool is referring to the relationship between former priest David Dueppen and ex-stripper Beatrice Hernandez, who Dueppen met at her place of business, Porky's, and the fallout that occurred after Hernandez attempted to keep Dueppen from seeing their daughter (whose middle name is, appropriately, Epiphany).

Dueppen was first granted only supervised visits, then supervised, and now an equal split with Hernandez.

"It's better," said Rafool of the current relationship between Hernandez and Dueppen, "as parents you have to get along regardless of feelings."

Dueppen was suspended from the Catholic church, which is now in the process of investigating him via canon law, and is now working as a security guard. Rafool said his client hopes to return to teaching, the career he had before he became a priest.

For now, though, Rafool said Dueppen's main priority is simple: "enjoying time with his daughter." 

Maybe it's a pipe dream, but we're not-so secretly hoping Father Cutie's new bundle of joy is looking for a playmate.
 

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