By Chris Rose
WCSH
September 24, 2007
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=71055
Augusta (News Center) — The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland is facing a lawsuit filed on behalf of a man who claims he was abused by a priest.
Steven Boyden claims the abuse happened in the early 1980's when he was a boy.
The suit names Father Ronald Michaud and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland as defendants.
It comes as no surprise that Michaud is being
 |
accused of sexual abuse. He is one of four priests accused of sexually abusing minors whose names were made public by Bishop Richard Malone earlier this year.
In the lawsuit, Steven Boyden claims he was abused by Michaud while Michaud was serving as a priest at Saint Hyacinths in Westbrook in the early 1980's.
At the time, Boyden was an altar boy, in youth ministry and on the religious retreat team. He says after Michaud was transferred to Aroostook County, Michaud invited him for a visit during which time he abused him again.
 |
Diocese officials say Boyden first came to them back in 2002 to report the abuse.
The lawsuit claims the church was aware Michaud was abusing minors before and during the abuse of Boyden, but concealed that information from parishioners.
Diocese officials deny that claim, saying they first became aware of allegations against Michaud in 1989 and removed him from his ministering duties at that time.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.