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	Former Priest Charged with Decades-Old Sex Assaults Times & Transcript July 17, 2009 http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/731911 TRACADIE-SHEILA - A long-time former priest on the Acadian Peninsula is facing a string of sex charges. Lévi Noël, now 83, has been charged by RCMP with 12 counts of gross indecency, nine counts of indecent assault and one count of assault. The complainants are 10 males who were all minors at the time. The charges allege offences that occurred between 1958 and 1978. RCMP say the file remains open and anyone with any information on the existing cases, or possible new cases, is asked to contact them. Noël is scheduled to appear in provincial court in Tracadie-Sheila on Aug. 26. RCMP in Tracadie-Sheila began their investigation in May of 2008. Noël left the Diocese of Bathurst more than 30 years ago and is now retired. Father Wesley Wade, vicar general of the diocese, won't comment while the matter is before the court but issued a written statement stating the accusations are a matter of "great concern." "Sexual aggression, especially that perpetrated against minors, is severely condemned by the church. We are very much aware of the harmful consequences this can have on the lives of the victims. The accused, of course, remains innocent until proven guilty."
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