Prostitution Charge against Former Brockton and Avon Priest 'A Shocker'
By Maria Papadopoulos
BROCKTON — News of the arrest of Monsignor Arthur Coyle on a charge of soliciting a prostitute stunned board members at Cardinal Spellman High School, where he has also served on the board. “That’s a shocker,” said John T. Yunits Jr. of Brockton, a member of Spellman’s board of trustees, who declined further comment on the arrest Monday. Monsignor Coyle, a high-ranking priest with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston who previously served at parishes in Avon, Brockton and Scituate, has taken a voluntary leave after being accused of soliciting a prostitute in Lowell on Sunday. It was unclear for how long Monsignor Coyle, a Weymouth native, has served on Cardinal Spellman’s board of trustees, and whether he would remain on the board after his weekend arrest. Monday afternoon, Monsignor Coyle’s photograph and his biography were listed on Spellman’s website among other board of trustee members, then removed by 4 p.m. “If ever there is anyone with a Spellman connection it is Msgr. Art Coyle!” Monsignor Coyle’s biography read before it was removed Monday afternoon from the school’s website. Authorities said Monsignor Coyle was granted $500 bail after pleading not guilty Monday in Lowell to a count of sexual conduct for a fee. Lowell police said the 62-year-old Monsignor Coyle was arrested Sunday after police say he was found with a prostitute behind a Lowell cemetery. Monsignor Coyle is the episcopal vicar for the Merrimack Region, meaning he oversees several parishes in the area. Pope Benedict XVI conferred the papal title of Prelate of Honor, the second highest of three monsignor ranks, on Monsignor Coyle last December. “Monsignor Arthur Coyle has distinguished himself throughout his priesthood with exemplary service to Christ and His Church,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley said in a statement in December. Monsignor Coyles lives at the rectory of St. Rita’s parish in Lowell. The Boston Archdiocese said Monsignor Coyle will remain on administrative leave, pending the outcome of his case. He’s prohibited from performing any public ministry during that time. Monsignor Coyle was ordained in 1977 and has been vicar since 2008. Monsignor Coyle served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Brockton from 1977 to 1982, as parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Avon in 1985, and as chaplain at Cardinal Spellman from 1985 to 1992, the Archdiocese said. Matt Keswick, a member of Spellman’s board of trustees, said he learned of Monsignor Coyle’s arrest through online news reports Monday. “I haven’t had any time to process it,” Keswick, president of Keswick Consulting, said before declining further comment. Another board member, John “Jack” Bailey, owner of Eddie Bailey’s Garage in Abington, said he was stunned by the arrest of Monsignor Coyle. “I would say I’m surprised. I don’t know anything about it. I really don’t know,” Bailey said before declining further comment. Monsignor Coyle is a graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Weymouth and holds degrees from St. John’s Seminary, St. John’s Seminary School of Theology and Cambridge College. He has saerved at St. Patrick Church in Brockton, St. Michael Churchin Avon, St. Peter Churchin Norwood, St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Scituate and at parishes in Framingham, Norwood, Scituate and Lowell. He previously served as director of campus ministry at Framingham State University. Contact: mpapa@enterprisenews.com
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