Retired Priest Charged with Sex Crimes to Appear in Court

By Sarah Anderson and Alison Sandor
CFRA
February 14, 2013

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=90082

A retired Roman Catholic priest is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning on charges of gross indecency dating back to the early 1970's.

In November, Ottawa police began investigating a series of alleged incidents involving a retired priest and a seven-year-old boy. The incidents allegedly occurred in Ottawa between 1971 and 1973.

Jacques Faucher, 76, who know lived in Gatineau is charged with one count each of gross indecency and indecent assault.

Faucher has a long history in the City of Ottawa and was ordained in 1960, serving in four separate parishes, according to a profile on the archdiocese website.

"On learning that Fr. Jacques Faucher has been charged with criminal misconduct in relation to a minor, I want to advise our Catholic faithful, and the wider community, that I have suspended him from all ministry and prohibited him from representing himself as a Catholic priest," said Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast in a statement.

"Our diocese is committed to creating a safe environment in the Church for minors and other vulnerable persons," said Prendergast. "We are also committed to a process of justice and reconciliation for the victims of clergy abuse."

Faucher acted as a consultant and later as a trustee for the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

In a release, police urged anyone with more information on these charges and on the priest to come forward as they continue their investigation.