BROCKTON (MA)
Boston Herald
By Associated Press
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Updated: 04:06 PM EST
BROCKTON, Mass. - An 80-year-old Roman Catholic priest pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges he raped a boy 14 years ago at a parish in Plymouth.
The Rev. Anthony Laurano, of Hull, was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on two counts of rape of a child and released on his own recognizance.
The charges stem from a 1991 incident when Laurano was pastor of St. Mary's Church in Plymouth, prosecutors said. The alleged victim was an 8-year-old boy who was allegedly raped by Laurano twice during the week before his first communion.
Laurano was suspended from the priesthood two years ago when the allegations surfaced.
As condition of his release he was ordered to have no contact with children and is due back in court next month.