May 16, 2005

Priest ousted over ethical violations

MACHIAS (ME)
Bangor Daily News

By Rich Hewitt, Of the NEWS Staff

MACHIAS — A Roman Catholic priest and former state prison chaplain has been removed over ethical violations in his ministry at the Washington County jail, the Diocese of Portland said on Saturday.

The Rev. Michael Sheridan, who was administrator of Holy Name Parish in Machias and St. Michael Mission in Cherryfield, was directed to return to his home diocese in Worcester, Mass., immediately. He already had planned to return to Worcester this summer.

Although a diocese representative declined to discuss the details of the violation, the district attorney for Washington and Hancock counties said Sunday night that the violation appears to have been a case of "mutual interaction between the priest and a female inmate at the jail."

"This does not in any way come close to criminal conduct," District Attorney Michael Povich said.

Posted by kshaw at May 16, 2005 10:58 AM