re: #208 Anymouse 🌹🏡😷

boston.com

A former longtime pastor for a Lynn parish, who had been accused in 2012 of sexually abusing a child, has been found guilty by a Roman Catholic judicial court and sentenced to “a life of Prayer and Penance,” the Archdiocese of Boston announced in a statement Thursday.

Rev. James Gaudreau, former pastor of St. Joseph Parish, has been banned from exercising “any public ministry” or celebrating public mass, the archdiocese said.

“He may not provide spiritual direction, may not wear clerical attire and cannot function in any manner as a priest,” the statement read. “He is to live in contemplation of his sins and pray for all of those affected by his conduct.”

(more)

The district attorney declined to press charges against the priest after the archdiocese reported it to the police.

Wow - real tough penalties there for child sex-abuse: basically, “turn in your collar and get lost”?
And what’s to stop Fr. Rev. Mr. Gaudreau from simply moving to another state and opening a day-care center?*

*OK, exaggeration. Slightly. I hope.