Retired priest charged with sexual assault of youth

By Glen Dawkins
Daily News
October 16, 2018

https://winnipegsun.com/news/crime/retired-priest-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-youth

A retired priest has been charged in an historic sexual assault investigation for offences dating back to the 1980’s.

Roland Lanoie, 70, was arrested earlier this month and charged with four counts of sexual assault and indecent assault. He was released from custody.

In spring 2018, the Winnipeg Police Service Child Abuse Unit began an investigation into allegations of sexual assault. The victim, an adult male, disclosed to investigators a series of sexual assaults occurring between 1982 and 1988 in Winnipeg while he was a resident student at the St. Boniface Minor Seminary. The victim was a youth at the time of the offences.

On Oct. 3, Lanoie was arrested. Investigators confirmed the accused was functioning as an ordained priest holding various positions within the Archdiocese of St. Boniface at the time of the offences.

In a news release from the archdiocese, Archbishop Albert LeGatt urged people to “pray for the victim and his family, for all the faithful of the archdiocese, for all of its priests and for the entire church.”

“Each time the heinous crime of sexual abuse is reported, victims and their families are wounded again, the vast majority of faithful priests bow their heads in shame, and sincere Catholics, Christians and people of good will, experience shock, sorrow, anger and righteous indignation,” the statement said.