Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Boston priest accused of adult sexual misconduct

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has suspended a priest serving at a church in the city's Mattapan neighborhood over allegations of adult sexual misconduct.

Archdiocese officials on Sunday did not provide details of the case against the Rev. Gabriel Michel, but said law enforcement had not been contacted because no criminal activity is alleged.

Michel who is from the Archdiocese of Cap-Haitien in Haiti, has worked in Boston since 2002, most recently as the assistant pastor at St. Angela Merici parish and as a part-time chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The archdiocese said in a statement that it has notified the Most Rev. Louis Kebreau in Haiti of the allegations.

Michel was unavailable for comment. St. Angela Merici's pastor called Michel a "good priest."

SIC: NP