Category:Maine Dioceses

From Eurêka

Maine Dioceses General

Swanson v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland Case in which the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the First Amendment of the US Constitution prevents a denomination or religious organization and its leaders from being sued for negligent supervision. Opinion written by Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Wathen in 1997. “For the first time, we must decide whether courts may constitutionally impose and enforce a duty of employee supervision derived from secular agency principals against a religious organization.... The First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 3 of the Maine Constitution both guarantee citizens the right to freely exercise their chosen religion and forbid the establishment of religion by the government. When interpreting these guarantees, courts have generally held that states are forbidden from interfering in matters concerning religious doctrines or organization. By dictating neutrality in the part of the courts, our constitutions ensure that religious organizations remain free from secular control or manipulation and retain power to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine....” The ruling created a nearly insurmountable barrier to bringing sex abuse cases against the Roman Catholic Church in Maine.

Wathen appointment Daniel Wathen was appointed head of a new sex abuse review panel for the Diocese of Portland which has set off a wave of protest from groups critical of the church's response to the sex-abuse scandal, March 2003.

Diocese Of Portland

Diocese of Portland Covers the whole of the state of Maine.

Diocese of Portland abuse Diocese of Portland revealed allegations made against 51 no longer active priests, including 18 who were dead. Of the 33 still living but inactive priests, 25 were part of the Diocese of Portland and under the direct control of Bishop Joseph Gerry and his predecessors. Eight were members of religious orders, such as the Jesuits or Christian Brothers. One in eight priests has been the subject of allegations of sexual misconduct with children. National audit reported 86 victims in Maine made abuse allegations against 51 priests since 1950, and $2.6 million was spent on claims since the diocese began keeping detailed financial records in 1976, 12 February 2004. More than 60 Maine priests and church employees had been accused of abusing children during the past 75 years, July 2005.

Dead priest list Maine's Roman Catholic diocese validated child sexual abuse allegations against nine of 21 dead priests, saying they likely would be removed from ministry under today's standards if they were still alive, 3 July 2005.

Diocesan Cases of Portland

(alphabetical listing)

[More than 60 offenders acknowledged, 35 listed]

Anon Nun affair In the case of a nun, a single accuser came forward to report abuse that occurred in the 1930s or 1940s, 2004. This is the only case in which a nun has been accused of sexually abusing children in Maine.

Anon priest Accused by two women of groping and kissing them when they were girls c. 1970 in York County, and by a man who said the priest would ask altar boys to strip naked while preparing for Mass at a parish in central Maine. That priest also was accused in the 1950s of keeping girls at his house until 3 am, but he denied doing anything inappropriate.

Audibert affair Rev. John Audibert molested a 16-year-old boy in 1976 in Caribou, ME, who became a victim’s advocate, accusing the priest, 1993. The victim was himself convicted of molesting a 10-year-old boy in 1999, with the pernicious spiral continuing with that victim abusing a 3-year-old boy. Some members of Audibert's congregation already knew about his case, while others apparently only had a vague idea. The priest continued pastoral duties until he confessed on orders of the diocese before his congregation, February 2002. Removed.

Beaudet affair Rev. George Beaudet (1930-) who served in nine parishes, including St. Mary’s in Westbrook, was accused of sexual abuse of children before being removed from the ministry in 2000.

Boltz affair Monsignor Henry Boltz (d. 1970), a leading figure in Maine's Roman Catholic Church, who the diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations. Boltz befriended a teenage boy from Camp Pesquasawasis (Camp Pesky) staff. This boy accompanied the visiting elderly prelate on shopping trips and to the movies and made long visits inside Boltz's private cabin on the camp grounds. “I called the staff together and said the monsignor's cabin was out of bounds,” Rev. Francis McGillicuddy, the camp director recalled. “No one was to go down there for any reason,” summer 1963.Within days, Boltz left and never returned. Since his death, four men have come forward and said Boltz molested them during the 1940s and 1950s. One described being taken to the priest's camp, where he was assaulted violently. The man said he had to sleep “with one eye open.”

1. McGillicuddy experience Rev. Francis McGillicuddy, ordained 1958, remembers that as a vulnerable young man, just out of the seminary, he was the object of sexual advances by an older priest who had been his mentor. McGillicuddy left the priesthood in 1972 to marry a former nun. He reported his experience to church authorities and received counseling paid for by the diocese.

Caron affair Rev. Antonin Caron accused of abuse of girl, age 15.

Carrier affair Rev. Herve Carrier (deceased) accused of sexual abuse with girl, 2002.

Carrigan affair Rev. Fredrick Carrigan (1937-), who served at parishes in Bath and Bangor before he was removed accused of sexual abuse in 2002.

Clogan case Rev. Paul Clogan (1931-) a priest at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Horseshoe Falls, Texas, was ordained in 1999 after spending 35 years teaching English in Texas. After his ordination in Maine, Clogan served as chaplain of Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital, both in Bangor, for one month. In August 1999, he was named parish administrator of Holy Name Catholic Church in Machias and St. Michael Mission in Cherryfield, where he served for 14 months. In January 2001, he transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Central Texas. Clogan was arrested and charged with groping a teenage boy in a movie theater in Marble Falls, Texas, December 2005. Both Texas communities are about 50 miles northwest of Austin. Clogan was born in 1931 in Boston and became a priest after he was widowed. Diocese of Portland suspended Clogan from ministry, 21 December 2005.

Corbeil affair Rev. Ralph Corbeil (d. 1973), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations. Removed 2004.

Coughlin affair Rev. Paul Coughlin (1935-), was ordained in 1966. His first assignment in Maine was at St. Athanasius and St. John churches in Rumford. He also served at parishes in Waterville, Oakland and Augusta. While Coughlin was pastor at St. Mary's Church in Bangor, the priest had inappropriate physical contact with a minor in 1985. He left Bangor in 1987. He was appointed pastor of Holy Cross and St. the Evangelist churches in South Portland in 1996, was temporarily removed from his pastorate in early August 2004 when church officials began an investigation into whether he put children at risk by allowing John Skinner Sr. to live with him at the St. John's rectory between 1999 and 2001. Resigned in October 2004.

1. Skinner case John Skinner Sr. (1942-) of Bar Harbor pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys he met through church in separate incidents in 1989 and between 1990 and 1994. Both victims participated in youth programs at St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lincoln, where Skinner volunteered as an adult supervisor in the late 1980s. Sentenced in Penobscot County Superior Court to 18 years in prison, with all but five years suspended, 27 August 2004.

Crete case Br. Marcel Crete, Brothers of Christian Instruction, accused of sexual abuse, convicted 1989.

Crozier affair Rev. John Crozier, 1990), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations.

Curran affair Rev. John J. Curran (1930-1976), served as priest at Augusta's St. Augustine Church from 1962 to 1972. Curran was a central and powerful figure in the city's Catholic community, largely composed of Franco-Americans. So it was fitting that when the state wanted to honor Augusta's citizens of French descent, the downtown span crossing the Kennebec River was named the "Father Curran Bridge." So, too, it was fitting that two college scholarships in the area, one at the University of Maine at Augusta, the other awarded by the Calumet Club, were named in honor of Curran. At least two people have come forward, one to the Legislature and the other to the Attorney General's office, claiming that Curran sexually abused them when they were children. The diocese of investigated both claims and spokeswoman said the diocese believes one of those two formal accusations to be true. If Curran were alive today, the diocese would ask the Vatican to remove him from the priesthood.

Doucette affair Rev. Michael Doucette confessed he had been “intimately involved” with a 15-year-old boy in 1980 that went on for three years, which led to a legal settlement that included an imposed silence. Doucette's case had not been previously disclosed publicly and he continued pastoral duties until he confessed on orders of the diocese before his congregation, February 2002. Removed.

Doyon affair Rev. Dominic Doyon (year of death unknown), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations.

Girardin affair Rev. Antonio Girardin, 1974), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations, accused of molesting one girl and three boys between 1943 and 1971.

Harris affair Rev. John Harris investigated for possible abuse, accused of nude swimming with youths, September 2003.

Kane affair Rev. Francis Kane, a hospital chaplain, accused of abuse, settled in 1995.

Lauzon case Rev. Raymond J. Lauzon convicted. 6 months jail in Lithuania.

Lee affair Rev. Thomas Lee (1928-) of St. Philip Parish stepped down voluntarily May-November 2002 while officials first investigated an accusation of abuse, but he denied the charge, returned to his post after the investigation was unable to substantiate the claim. A Boothbay Harbor woman filed a lawsuit against Lee who she says molested her son from the time the boy was 3 years old until he was 5, 1997-9. Two new allegations of misconduct with minors, also dating back 20 years, were reported to the diocese, and the bishop re-opened the case. Bishop Gerry asked Lee to step down again during the investigation, September 2003. Lee did not face criminal prosecution, as the statute of limitations had expired. Removed 2003.

McEnany case Br. Shawn McEnany, Sacred Heart, accused of unlawful sexual conduct (2 misdemeanors), convicted 1988.

McKeone affair Rev. Lucien McKeone, 1980), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations.

Malia affair Charles Malia, a former Cheverus High School teacher and track coach, acknowledged in 2000 that he had sexually abused students years earlier.

Mandeville affair Rev. Lucien Mandeville, 1984), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations.

Melville affair Rev. Raymond Melville, a serial pedophile, left active ministry in 1997, a diocesan spokeswoman said in 2002 that his departure had nothing to do with abuse allegations. But in 2001, a former spokesman said he had left the priesthood after refusing further treatment. A judge ordered Melville to pay $500,000 to a man who said he was sexually molested by the priest as a child, January 2004.

1. Fortin accusation Rev. Raymond Melville, who was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Augusta, sexually abused altar boy Michael Fortin (1972-) for seven years beginning in 1985 when Fortin was 13. Fortin filed a suit against Melville and the diocese in 2001. He had a $500,000 judgment against him.
2. Picher accusation William Picher claimed in the lawsuit that between 1987 and 1989, while he was a student at St. Mary's School in Augusta, he was repeatedly sexually abused by the Rev. Raymond Melville, who was assigned to St. Mary's parish at the time.
3. Melvile cover-up Church officials kept concerns quiet for fear of “liability and... scandal,” transferring Rev. Raymond Melville to two new parishes in three years having “serious concerns” about Melville even before the priest was accused in 1990 of sexually abusing a teenager in Maine. Bishop Joseph Gerry of Portland, Maine, then moved Melville from Rumford to Lewiston and Machias after March 1990, when a man wrote to Gerry accusing Melville of sexual abuse over a five-year period beginning at 14. He begged Bishop Gerry to “please stop this from happening again.” The bishop pledged “to address the matter vigorously and expeditiously,” putting Melville in therapy for a few months, then moved him to another parish. While there the priest continued to molest a teenager, Michael Fortin (Fortin accusation) who he had started abusing years before, according to a lawsuit filed 2000.

Michaud affair IDiocese announced it removed the Rev. Leo James Michaud from his parish assignment in Ellsworth, 27 April 2002. Accusation was made by a man who said Michaud abused him 25 years earlier, when Michaud was a seminarian and the alleged victim was a teenager.

Michaud affair II Rev.Ronald Michaud (1947-), a Jesuit, who served in parishes in Portland, Biddeford and Cape Elizabeth before he was removed in 1989 was accused of sexual abuse.

1. Boyden accusation Steven Boyden claims he was abused by Michaud while Michaud was serving as a priest at Saint Hyacinths in Westbrook in the early 1980's. At the time, Boyden was an altar boy, in youth ministry and on the religious retreat team. He says after Michaud was transferred to Aroostook County, Michaud invited him for a visit during which time he abused him again. Boyden report the abuse to the diocese in 2002. Lawsuit filed September 2007.

Plourde affair Rev. Michael Plourde (1951-) who served at parishes in Sanford, Biddeford and Westbrook before being removed by the ministry accused of sexual abuse in 1994.

Richard affair Rev. Norman Richard of Holy Family Parish in Old Town was the third current or retired Maine priest to be linked to the St. Sebastian's Angels Web site for gay clergy that was shut down in 2000 after the conservative Roman Catholic Foundation exposed its existence. At the time, the Portland diocese confirmed that three Maine priests had used the site, but only two of the priests were identified, 8 September 2003.

Robichaud affair Rev. James P. Robichaud (1952-2008), an Augusta native, served at St. Agnes Parish of Pittsfield and Our Lady of the Snows Parish of Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft and Milo, was temporarily suspended 26 June 2008, pending an investigation into an allegation he sexually abused a girl 29 years earlier, in 1979. He committed suicide 27 June 2008.

Robitaille affair Rev. Marcel L. Robitaille removed for admitted abuse, 2002.

Sabatino affair Rev. Lawrence Sabatino, accused of abusing at least 14 girls while he served in parishes in Lewiston and Portland from 1958 and 1972. Most of the alleged abuse occurred in Portland, when Sabatino was an assistant pastor at St. Peter's.

1. Confidential support group For women who were sexually abused by the Rev. Lawrence Sabatino, set up by Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine, October 2005.

Thomson affair Rev. Edward Thomson, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Windham, ME, who was convicted and fined in 1997 for soliciting a prostitute in Lewiston, told parishioners that he is leaving the priesthood for at least a year at the request of Bishop Joseph Gerry who was concerned about Thomson's management of the church's finances and about a persistent rumor of an “inappropriate relationship” with an adult female parishioner. 30 January 2003.

Vallely affair Rev. James Vallely (d. 1997), diocese validated child sexual-abuse allegations, 2001.

1. Gray accusation Larry Gray reported Rev. James Vallely as having sexually abused him repeatedly when he was an altar boy growing up on Portland's West End in the 1950s