Maine Roman Catholic Priest Takes Leave of Absence during Attorney General's Investigation

The Republic
April 4, 2012

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1ec05087caa24a51bfc5da3cf1f4105b/ME--Priest-Investigation/

FORT KENT, Maine — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland says a priest who serves a Fort Kent parish has taken a leave of absence pending the results of an investigation launched by the Maine attorney general's office.

Neither the diocese nor the attorney general would say why the Rev. James Nadeau is under investigation. He has been at St. John Vianney Parish in northern Maine for the past seven years and previously served at parishes in Biddeford and Portland. He was ordained in 1988.

Bishop Richard Malone said in a statement Tuesday that the 51-year-old Nadeau has taken a leave "in order for the investigation to proceed unimpeded." The diocese is cooperating.

The diocese says another priest will be assigned to the parish, which is made up of four churches.