MAINE
Boston.com
By Associated Press | December 5, 2005
PORTLAND, Maine -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland announced that the pastor of a church in Kennebunk is stepping down, pending an investigation into an allegation that he had improper contact with a minor six years ago.
The diocese said Saturday that the Rev. Laurent Laplante's ''temporary removal from public ministry" was for ''the purpose of preserving the integrity of the process, to give potential witnesses the greatest freedom, and to fulfill the church's commitment to protect children."
Laplante, 74, has been pastor of St. Martha's Parish in Kennebunk since 1995.
The diocese said a high school girl recently reported that when she was 9 Laplante touched her pants on the knee and inner thigh. Laplante has denied any wrongdoing and has indicated he will cooperate with the diocese in its investigation, according to the church statement.