In his own statement, Williams said: "A number of years ago I had a relationship with a woman and fathered her child. I am deeply sorry for this grave transgression and have tried to make amends.

"My superiors and I have decided it would be best for me to take a year without active public ministry to reflect on the wrong I have done and my commitments as a priest," he continued. "I am truly sorry to everyone who is hurt by this revelation, and I ask for your prayers as I seek guidance on how to make up for my errors."

Both statements were posted on the Legionaries' web site, www.legionariesofchrist.org. Williams' own web site, www.thomasdwilliams.com, had been taken down as of March 16.

A member of the Legionaries of Christ since 1985 and ordained a priest in 1994, Williams holds degrees in theology, philosophy and business. Based in Rome, he was serving as dean of the theology school at the Rome's Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University.

He has worked extensively for Sky News in Britain covering Church and ethical issues. For both NBC and Sky News, the priest covered the final illness and death of Pope John Paul II, the 2005 papal conclave and the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

Besides previous work for a number of networks, he currently was a consultant on Vatican affairs for NBC News and MSNBC. He is the author of a 2008 book titled Knowing Right From Wrong: A Christian Guide to Conscience. He is a former publisher of the Zenit news agency in Rome.

"I know that this will be shocking news to you," Garza said in his statement about Williams. "In the wake of all that we have been through as a movement in the past several years, it won't surprise me if you are disappointed, angry or feel your trust shaken once again."

The Legionaries has been undergoing a Vatican-led reform and reorganization. The reform efforts came after revelations that the order's founder, the late Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, had fathered children and sexually abused seminarians.

Pope Benedict XVI ordered an apostolic visitation of the Legionaries in 2009.

In February, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, who is serving as papal delegate for the Legionaries of Christ, set up a five-man commission to listen to victims of the Legionaries' founder and present their claims to the order.

A notice published Feb. 1 on the Legionaries' web site, said the commission will "deal only with cases having a direct relation to the person of Fr. Maciel. It will not intervene in cases awaiting decisions from civil or ecclesiastical courts," the notice said.

"Fr. Williams has enriched the faith of so many through his teaching, public speaking and writing, and has been a spiritual guide for many in the movement," said Garza. "That is what makes this failing such a painful reminder that we are all frail humans, in desperate need of God's mercy.

The Associated Press May 11 reported that Vatican was investigating seven Legionaries of Christ priests for alleged sexual abuse of minors. AP quoted a statement from the Legionaries confirming the investigation of alleged abuse, most of which had reportedly occurred decades ago.