Posted on 06/08/2006 4:20:52 PM PDT by NYer
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- A Roman Catholic priest from the Springfield Diocese suspected of sexual abuse has been defrocked.
Diocese officials said Richard Meehan was permanently dismissed from the priesthood on April 28 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Church officials aren't providing details about who Meehan allegedly molested or how many people filed complaints. The diocese told him he could no longer work as a priest in 1994, and referred his case to the Vatican in 2002.
Since he was suspended from his priestly duties, Meehan has been receiving a monthly stipend of about $1,200 from the diocese. Those payments will stop now.
Meehan is the second priest from the Springfield Diocese to be defrocked.
Richard Lavigne was convicted of child abuse and suspected -- but never charged -- with murdering altar boy Danny Croteau more than 30 years ago.
B-16 continues to clean shop.
Thank God for Pope Benedict.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.