Police Charge Priest

Whig-Standard
February 21, 2012

http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3478519

The OPP charged a Roman Catholic priest in connection to an alleged sex assault dating back to 2004.

Rene Paul Emile Labelle, 62, of Seeley's Bay was charged Monday.

Labelle was charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and invitation to sexual exploitation.

The charges relate to an alleged incident against a then teenage boy in the summer of 2004.

Labelle was released from custody on a promise to appear.

Labelle is a long-time fixture in Kingston's Roman Catholic community. He was ordained by the Archdiocese of Kingston in 1977.

Labelle worked as a priest chaplain for three days a week at Holy Cross Secondary School in Kingston.

There he provided priestly ministry to the school community including confession, spiritual counselling and daily mass in the school chapel.

In late January, Labelle voluntarily stepped down from his St. Barnaby Catholic Church parish because of alleged involvement in “inappropriate activity.”

After stepping down from his parish, he was also withdrawn from his role at the high school.

Labelle is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Kingston on March 27.

The police said the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Leeds County OPP Crime Unit at 613-345-1790 or 1-888-310-1122.

Contact: eferguson@thewhig.com