"Until earlier this week, Aitcheson served as parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great in Fairfax, Va. He has since been granted a leave of absence."

I can see why Fr. Aitcheson might want to take a leave of absence in order to "hide out" for a while until the media sh*t storm dissipates. Since he appears to be truly contrite and truly converted, I don't see why a leave of absence should be imposed on him from on high. Since this article doesn't state whether or not that's the case I won't speculate on the reasons for his leave myself. But I think that anyone who believes in the concept of conversion should accept Fr. Aitcheson's apology for his youthful lapse in judgment. Anyone, young people especially, can get swept away in a herd mentality surrounded by bad people. Impressionable youth can be forgiven their indiscretions. But when people mature and renounce their old ways, I think they should be given a chance. If we can't forgive them we're not very good Christians, are we?