Boston Archdiocese Finds Priest Guilty Of Child Sex Abuse, Assigns Him To A “Life Of Prayer And Penance”

The Associated Press reports:

A Catholic priest that led parishes in Massachusetts has been found guilty of sexually abusing a child in the 1960s by a church panel and barred from public ministry, the Archdiocese of Boston said Friday.

Paul J. McLaughlin, a former pastor of St. Peter Parish in Lowell and Immaculate Conception Parish in Marlboro, will not be allowed to function in any manner as a priest, meaning he can no longer celebrate public Mass, provide spiritual direction or wear clerical attire.

“He is expected to dedicate his life to praying for victims and repenting of his past offenses,” the archdiocese said. “In this way, the Church seeks even here to prevent any future abuse and to repair the injustice that has already taken place.”

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Screenshot below is from the archdiocese’s site.