NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Union Leader
By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader
Edward J. Arsenault III, a former monsignor and the face of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester in the early 2000s when it was rocked by a sexual abuse scandal involving priests and children, has been formally dismissed from the priesthood.
On Friday, the diocese announced that Pope Francis has stripped Arsenault of his clerical duties.
“By virtue of this decree, Edward J. Arsenault has no faculties to act, function, or present himself as a priest,” the diocese stated. The action also dispenses him “from all obligations subsequent to sacred ordination, including that of celibacy.”
The Rev. Georges de Laire, judicial vicar for the diocese and a canon lawyer, informed Arsenault in person on Thursday of Pope Francis’ decision, which was decreed on Feb. 28. The paperwork first made its way to the Pope’s ambassador in Washington, D.C., and then to the diocese which received it on March 28.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.