BELLINGHAM (MA)
MetroWest Daily News
By Sara Withee / Daily News Staff
Saturday, June 11, 2005
BELLINGHAM -- Weeks after the Rev. Paul Desilets pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges, the Archdiocese of Boston has announced another former Assumption Parish priest is realizing consequences for his alleged wrongdoing.
The Rev. Richard Matte, who served at the now-closed Our Lady of Assumption Parish in South Bellingham, is among six priests who have "left the clerical state" accused of sexually abusing minors, the archdiocese announced Wednesday.
The priests were removed from active duty during the 2002 clergy sex abuse scandal, along with dozens of others. The archdiocese is not saying whether they chose to leave or the Vatican defrocked them.
This week's announcement means they cannot act as priests except to offer absolution to the dying and will not receive any financial support from the archdiocese.