Database of Publicly Accused

Accused in 1993 of abuse of a minor 1974-1976. Received treatment. Case evaluated by the Diocesan Review Board and Audibert was returned to active ministry. Removed from active ministry without privileges in 2002. He told his parishioners about the claims. Permanently removed from ministry by the Vatican in 3/2006 and ordered to lead a life of prayer and penance. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2023 of sexually abusing an altar boy, age 12, in the late 1960s.

Accused of abuse of at least three boys, who were students at Cheverus High School, between 1950 and 1960, per documents released by Maine AG in 2005. Died 2/5/1986. Included on the Northeast Province Jesuits list of credibly accused 1/15/2019, which notes incidents reported in 2002 of abuse 1955-1956. Included on the Detroit archdiocese's list 6/10/2019.

Accused in 2002 of abuse of a 15-year-old girl in 1948. Also accused of abusing an altar boy 1952-56, per documents released by Maine AG's office in 5/05. There were several complaints in the early 1950s and Corbeil was transferred. Abuse of the altar boy was allegedly at St. Mary's in Lewiston. Corbeil was said to have given the boy money after each incident. Corbeil retired 8/1/69 and died 1/20/73.

One of three priests accused in a 4/2023 lawsuit of abusing four Native American children, ages 7 to 16, at St. Ann's on Indian Island between 1972 and 1987. Cote told a news outlet, "I don't see myself as abusing anybody." One woman said Cote abused her in the rectory kitchen in the summer of 1978. She said her father witnessed the abuse and confronted Cote, and the family soon moved.

Law enforcement informed the diocese in 2002 that Coughlin had been accused of "inappropriate physical contact" (but not abuse) with a minor in 1985. The diocese deemed that allegation unsubstantiated. Removed in 2004 after diocese learned that Coughlin had allowed a man accused of molesting a teenage boy to live in his rectory. Was to be returned to limited duties in 2/08 but too much public outcry.

Pleaded guilty in 12/89 to five counts of gross sexual misconduct against a 12-year-old boy in 1983. Two other charges were beyond the statute of limitations. Per 2/04 Maine Attorney General's Report, Crete was sentenced to 8 years with all but two and a half years suspended and a period of probation. Served 7 months of his sentence and was released in 7/90. Last known to still be living with the Brothers of Christian Instruction in Alfred, Maine. Registered sex offender.

Curran retired in 1972 and died in 1976. In 1994 a man testified at a legislative hearing that he had been molested by Curran in the 1950s. The diocese forwarded the information to police in 5/2002. Another man had notified the police in 3/2002 that he had also been molested by Curran in the late 1950s. Another man complained in 2007 of abuse as a boy, age 12, in 1962. The bishop noted in 7/2008 that if Curran were alive, the diocese would remove him from ministry pending investigation. Personnel file released in 1/2014. Suit filed in 6/2022. Three new lawsuits filed in 12/2022 by men alleging abuse by Curran as boys, ages 11-14, in the 1960s. 

Monsignor. A woman told the Diocese of Portland in OR in 2002 that Cyr molested her in 1949 when she was 11, and again in 1957 when she was 19 and he drove her home from college. He died in 1978. (Not the same priest as Armand Cyr of the Lafayette LA diocese.)

In 2002 a woman alleged that Dooley abused her when she was ages 3-11 during 1956-1964. He was assigned at the time to St. Dominic's in Portland. Another woman made allegations of abuse in 2000; her age at time of the alleged abuse was unknown. Dooley was assigned to Cheverus High School 1954-1958. He died in 7/1983. Included on the Jesuits Northeast Province list of credibly accused 1/15/2019, which notes allegation(s) received in 2000 of abuse in 1965. Assigned 1958-1980 to Boston College High School in Boston.

Accused in a lawsuit filed against the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Easter Province in 12/22 of sexually abusing a girl, ages 4-8, at a Bar Harbor seminary and Bucksport retreat house. The plaintiff claims that she lived in a Massachusetts orphanage affiliated with the Order and was brought to Maine, where she was abused by Craig and other priests.

Documents produced with the 2005 Maine Attorney General's Report show at least four allegations of abuse against Girardin. One woman complained that he abused her in 1943 when she was in 5th grade. The other three complaints were by men who said Girardin abused them as children in the 1960s. Girardin died in 1974. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2023 of sexually abusing a boy at a Pittsfield parish, where he was assigned 1960-1967.

Accused in 1995 of abuse dating back to 1953. Retired in 1996 and has had no duties after that time. Diocese announced in 1/07 that the Vatican had permanently removed him from ministry and ordered him to lead a life of prayer and penance. Died 9/14/09.

A woman filed suit in 3/10 against Hallee and the diocese alleging that he sexually abused her 1970-1973, beginning when she was age 8 and he was assigned to St. John's Parish in Bangor ME. The court ruled in favor of the diocese and Hallee due to the statute of limitations. The woman settled with the diocese but appealed the decision regarding Hallee; it was reversed in 1/12. Hallee's last assignment as a priest was in 1977. He spent time the same year at the House of Affirmation in Whitinsville, MA, stayed in MA and married in 1983. He was a teacher in Lexington MA 1978-2007 and was laicized 5/4/09. As a volunteer at a parish in Billerica MA, he was allowed to chaperone teenagers on a church trip in 2010, despite having informed the parish priest about the lawsuit. The woman's suit against Hallee was dismissed by the ME Supreme Court on the statute of limitations. The court said she had not tried hard enough to locate him and serve him with a lawsuit. In 2020 the diocese received a report that Hallee sexually abused a high school student in the early 1970s. The allegations were deemed credible by the Diocesan Review Board, as announced in 1/22. 

Disciplined in 1999 for launching a sexually explicit website. Placed on leave in 2003 after allegations of nude swimming and boating with youths 20 years prior. Subject of several complaints filed against the diocese. Reportedly moved to Canada and was defrocked in 2015. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2023 of sexually abusing a boy, beginning when the boy was age 14, in the mid-1980s. The boy lived at the Rumford Boys' Home, across the street from Harris' parish.

Accused in a 1994 civil suit of abuse of a youth in 1982 at St. Bartholomew's in Cape Elizabeth. Kane had been placed on limited ministry in 1987. Claim settled in 1995. Retired in 1997 from duties as hospital chaplain. In 1/07 it was announced that the Vatican had ordered Kane to lead a life of prayer and penance. Died 11/13/10.

A woman reportedly told four different priests in the 1970s that Lauzon was sexually abusing boys. No action. A young priest in the early 1980s told the chancellor that Lauzon was abusing a boy. Bishop Proulx decided the allegations were "groundless." Accused in 1984 of performing oral sex on a boy and of trying to get the boy to recant statement to police. Charges filed. In a plea deal, sentenced in 1985 to six months jail and one year probation for witness tampering only. Joined a Franciscan monastery in Kennebunk in 1990. Diocese published a written apology in 4/98. Several suits filed in the 1990s. Accused by five brothers of sexually abusing them as boys in the 1970s and 1980s. All reached settlements. Two brothers from another family also claimed abuse and received settlements. Maine AG report shows 18 plaintiffs. Living in 2002 at Monastery in Lithuania, often seen with children. Died in 9/05. A man sued the diocese in 2016, claiming abuse as a boy in the late 1970s to 1981 by Lauzon and Rev. Christian Roy. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 12/22 of sexually abusing a boy in 1970 at the St. Joseph the Provider thrift shop in Portland.

Accused in a 2/2023 lawsuit of plying a teenage boy with alcohol and sexually abusing him in a hotel room in Quebec in the early 1990s. Levasseur had taken the boy to Quebec for a religious event. He was assigned at the time to St. Luce in Frenchville and was head of the diocese's Christian Life Center. He died in 2009. His accuser first came forward to the diocese in 2017.

Accused in 2002 of abuse of a boy in 1944 in Lewiston, another in the early 1950s (who said Mandeville also abused his younger brother) in Rumford, and one during an unknown time frame. Retired in 1973. Died in 1984. Settlement of a lawsuit in 4/2024 with a man, age 89, who claimed he was sexually abused at age 13 in 1948 by Mandeville. The man said he and two other boys were playing outside of St. John's in Rumford when Mandeville offered to drive them home, and that the priest abused him in the car after dropping off the other boys. The man said he decided to settle so that he could put it behind him in the best way he could for healing.

Pleaded guilty in 1988 to unlawful sexual contact with a 15-year-old female student at a Lewiston ME High School. Received two one-year suspended sentences and one year probation. Hired in 1990 to work at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, NH. Order thought it was ok since it was a boys school and he abused a girl. Placed on leave in 1997; charged with violating a state law that bars sex offenders from working with children and for failing to register as a sex offender. Charges dropped in 1999. Moved to RI, became a social worker. Died in 2017. Named in Maine AG Report. Accused in a 5/18 lawsuit of sexually assaulting a girl at Bishop Guertin HS in NH in 1995. Hearing set for 9/21/20.

Left active priesthood in 1997. In a 1990 letter to Portland ME Bishop Gerry, a man accused Melville of abusing him as a teenager 1980-1985, when Melville was a seminarian in Baltimore. Melville admitted the allegations. Sent to treatment in MN, returned to ministry. Diocese knew of his behavior before 1990. Sued in 2000 by a man who claimed abuse for seven years, including rape, beginning when he was age 13 in 1985. Admitted the abuse. Suit settled for $500K. Other complaints in several locations. Case sent to Vatican with request for laicization; pending in 2012. Another suit filed in 2/2007 alleged abuse of a boy at age 12 in the late 1980s. Victim awarded $4.2M in 1/2008. Diocese dismissed from suit; dismissal upheld by ME Supreme Court in 11/2013. Third suit filed 11/2007. Melville was reportedly living in OK in 2007 and by 2013 may have been living in NC.

Removed in 4/2002 due to an allegation of abuse of teenage boy, ages 16-19, in the early 1970s. Michaud was a seminarian at the time in question. Bishop said in 2007 that there was no proof of sexual abuse of a minor but that there was other misconduct that would keep Michaud from active ministry. He is shown as on Special or Other Diocesan Assignment in the Catholic Directories 2003-2012. Name changed in the Directory's 2004-2012 volumes to James L. Michaud. One of three priests accused in a 4/2023 lawsuit of abusing four Native American children, ages 7 to 16, at St. Ann's on Indian Island between 1972 and 1987.

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2023 of sexually abusing altar boys between 1954 and 1957, while assigned to St. Rose of Lima in Chisholm. Retired in 1984. Died in 1/1994.

Publicly named as accused by diocese on 1/27/07. Plourde had been placed on leave in 1994 for allegations dating to 1976 that he abused two minors. He had returned to ministry in 1989 after counseling due to allegations involving sexual misconduct toward an adult. The Bishop recommended laicization. Name released as accused before the Vatican's decision came through, citing the case of accused Wilmington priest Francis G. DeLuca. Laicization announced in 5/08. In 12/22 two brothers sued the diocese, claiming Plourde sexually abused them when they were altar boys, ages 10 and 12, at St. Hycinth in Westbrook in 1978-1979. They said they told their mother at the time, who reported the abuse to Plourde's supervisor, Fr. Antonio Gosselin. The family left the parish and allegedly heard nothing back from church officials.

Church ignored complaints in 1986 that Robitaille abused a nephew. Accused in a 1993 civil suit of abusing his younger brothers and the nephew over a period of many years. Diocese also named in suit. Civil suit against diocese was dismissed in 2002; judge ruled that abuse occurred only through family relationships and not through Robitaille's duties as a priest. Family reached a confidential settlement with Robitaille. There was a non-family complaint in 1997. Sentenced by the Vatican in 7/2008 to a life of prayer and penance. One of three priests accused in a 4/2023 lawsuit of abusing four Native American children, ages 7 to 16, at St. Ann's on Indian Island between 1972 and 1987. Robitaille was noted to be deceased.

A Lewiston family told the bishop and police in 1958 that Sabatino had sexually abused their 6-year-old daughter. The bishop transferred him to St. Peter's parish. At least 13 women had come forward as of 2005 to allege that he abused them as children, at ages ranging from 6-17. During much of his time at St. Peter's, Sabatino was supervised by another priest, J. Romani, who has also been accused of abuse. Sabatino died in 1990. A woman filed suit in 12/2022 against the diocese, claiming Sabatino sexually abused her beginning when she was age 7 in 1964. She said the priest would play hide-and-seek with her and other girls in the church basement, pick one girl to hide with, then sexually abuse that child. In 3/2023 six women filed lawsuits claiming abuse by Sabatino as girls, ages 5-11, during 1958-1967.

As a result of a lawsuit by Blethen Maine Newspapers, the Maine Attorney General was compelled to release information and documents on accused priests and religious, including a 2005 letter from diocesan counsel to the AG, reporting that a man had notified the diocese that he had been sexually abused at age 8 or 9 in 1948 or 1949 by Sister Alexis-du-Sacre-Coeur in the 2nd or 3rd grade of St. Andre school in Biddeford. The 1949 Official Catholic Directory states that 26 Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and 11 Brothers of the Sacred Heart worked at the school, which had 478 boys and 664 girls studying there. St. Andre's also had a girls' high school with 104 pupils. The pastor was a diocesan consultor, Msgr. A.M. Decary. Counsel wrote: "Sister Alexis would punish students by having them sit under her desk. While under the desk, the Sister would put her dress over the child's head. [Redacted] reports that this happened to him often, and that she made him push his hands into her genitals while he was under her dress. She was not wearing underwear. Apparently this form of punishment was common and many students were placed under her desk. [Redacted] believes that at least one family, [Redacted] moved as a result of Sister Alexis' punishment of their child. At the time of the incidents, [Redacted] [redacted] parents, who reported them to the school. The school administrators urged the family not to say anything and there is some confusion regarding whether the police were informed. [Redacted] recalls the police coming to his home, but his older sister, [Redacted] did not share that recollection." See a 1946 photograph of Sister Alexis in her habit. By 1963, according to newspaper articles, Sister Alexis was teaching second grade at St. Augustine Catholic School in Augusta, where the 1963 Official Catholic Directory reports 18 Sisters of the Presentation of Mary were teaching 362 boys and 378 girls. Note that the 1949 Directory confuses Sister Alexis' order with the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but the 1963 Directory assigns St. Augustine's correctly to the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, founded in France with a motherhouse in Methuen MA. Sister Alexis-du-Sacre-Coeur's unusual religious name apparently derives from the name of her father, Alexis Delisle, Sr. Her gravestone at the former provincialate of her order in Methuen MA indicates that she was born Louise Delisle in 1904 and died in 1986.

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2023 of abusing a girl, age 7, at St. Ann's Indian Island School in Old Town in about 1977. Keogh was the superior of St. Ann's Convent and school principal at the time in question.

Sacred Heart Brother for 34 years, during which time he spent 21 years in Lesotho and Zambia. Ordained in 1985 for the Marists. Personnel file released in 12/02. Criminal trial in 1993 in ME for sexual contact in 1992 with child under 14 (3 boys) and child endangerment (providing beer). Found not guilty on sex charge and pleaded no contest to the other. Received treatment then reassigned to Boston under restrictions. Retired. All privileges removed in 1/02. Died in 8/12.

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2023 of sexually abusing a boy, age 12, in the late 1960s. Thibodeau was assigned at the time as chaplain at the Notre Dame Institute in Alfred. Thibodeau allegedly gave the boy and others alcohol in his living quarters, then isolated the boy and abused him. The boy tried to run away from the school with a classmate after several more incidents of abuse, but was returned by police and "corporally punished." Thibideau died in 2017.

On 7/5/21 the Diocese announced that Vaillancourt had been placed on leave pending the investigation of an allegation that he had sexually abused a girl in the 1980s. Director in the late 1980s of Diocesan Youth Ministry. Pastor at the time of his suspension of St. Brendan the Navigator in Camden, ME. Vaillancourt denied wrongdoing. Reportedly in 9/21 a second woman had come forward, alleging Vaillancourt raped and sexually assaulted her repeatedly in 1982, when she was 15. He was in charge of youth ministry at St. Andre's in Biddeford during the time in question. In 7/22 the diocese announced that its Review Board had determined that the allegations were unfounded, and that Vaillancourt would be returned to active ministry. Assigned in 1/23 to an Auburn parish.

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Portland OR in 1949; moved to Portland ME diocese in 1951, incardinated 1952. At least five allegations of abuse of boys, per docs released by ME AG's office in 5/05. Four were said to be in ME 1956-62. Privileges removed and abuse publicly acknowledged in 1993 after one accusation. A woman told pastor of St. Michael's church in 1994 (and later) that she had been abused at age 11. She settled for $200K in 12/09 for 1976 abuse. Vallely retired in 1988; died 12/12/97. Three more accusers emerged in 12/09. Two men filed suits in 5/13. On 11/23/15 six men filed civil suits vs the Portland ME diocese alleging abuse by Vallely 1958-77. All were altar boys, ages ranging 8-15 during alleged abuse. The diocese settled with the six men 8/15/16 for $1.2 million.

Monsignor. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 12/22 of sexually abusing a 9-year-old altar boy at St. John's in Bangor in 1966. Ward died in 1997, age 96. Ward's accuser claims the abuse happened multiple times, and that the school principal, who was a nun, walked in on them on one occasion. The man said he told the principal about the abuse a few days later and she slapped him on the hands and chastised him for lying.