WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The Rev. Monsignor John Allard has been placed on administrative leave, his authority to serve as a priest revoked, "as a result of a credible allegation of sexual misconduct of a minor that allegedly took place more than 30 years ago," Diocese officials said Monday.
Photo courtesy WPRI-12
Monsignor John Allard
Msgr. Allard, most recently assigned to St. Agatha and precious Blood parishes and the Father Marot CYO Center in Woonsocket, "has taken responsibility for his actions and has expressed his profound remorse for the harm he has caused," a news release said.
Diocese officials said "this is the first and only known allegation of abuse" against Msgr. Allard, who was ordained in 1975.
The Rev. Wilfred Gregoire, a senior priest in residence at St. Agatha, will administer the parishes in the interim.
"Allegations of abuse, even if they occurred many years ago, are taken very seriously," Bishop Thomas J. Tobin said. "For the many who are affected by this heartbreaking news, I offer my prayers for healing and forgiveness."
Diocesan officials urge victims of sexual abuse of those with knowledge of such abuse to contact the Rhode Island State Police at (401) 444-1000 or the Diocesan Office of Education and Compliance at (401) 941-0760.
This entry was first posted at 2:07 pm
State Police Maj. Michael Winquist says police received a letter from the diocese around Feb. 13 that outlined the allegations. Winquist said a boy who was one of Allard's then-parishioners in Cranston was allegedly assaulted by him in 1981. The diocese says Allard served at Immaculate Conception in Cranston from 1975 to 1984. Police and the diocese encouraged anyone else who knows of abuse to report it to police or the diocese. -- with Associated Press reports
Updated February 25, 2013 5:40 PM