Police Clear Priest of Any Wrongdoing

The Metro
April 13, 2012

http://metronews.ca/news/canada/103730/police-clear-priest-of-any-wrongdoing/

Police have dropped their investigation into a complaint against a priest who headed up a rehabilitation centre for addicts in Cape Breton.

The Cape Breton Regional Police say they have no basis to pursue any criminal charges involving the former employee of Talbot House in Sydney.

Rev. Paul Abbass confirmed in an email that he was the person being investigated, and that police have ended the probe.

Abbass took a leave of absence from his position as executive director of the facility after an unspecified allegation surfaced in February.

The centre has since closed.

Abbass said he’s not ready to speak publicly about the allegation.

Talbot House’s board of directors didn’t reveal details of the allegation against Abbass, who served as the centre’s director for about 15 years.

The Roman Catholic priest was responsible for some counselling, the finances and overseeing the day-to-day operations at the centre, which treated men in their 20s and 30s who had a history of addictions.

Abbass also gave up his duties as the spokesman for the Diocese of Antigonish during the investigation.