Ottawa Sun
Last Updated: July 12, 2010 8:19pm
By KENNETH JACKSON, Ottawa Sun
- William Joseph Allen is charged with three counts of indecent assault.
An 80-year-old Ottawa Roman Catholic priest has been charged with indecent assaults dating back to the 1970s.
William Joseph Allen was charged with three counts of indecent assault Monday by Ottawa police and released on conditions.
An investigation began in March into a series of alleged inappropriate contacts between Allen and two teenage males that occurred in Ottawa between 1970 and 1976.
When reached by telephone Monday Allen politely declined to comment on the allegations.
“No, thank you,” he said. “I don’t wish to make a comment.”
But in a recent newsletter issued by the Ottawa Archdiocese Allen is quoted saying what it means to be a happy and holy priest.
“Prayer. At times, priests drift away from prayer … put yourself in the Lord’s care. He is the eternal high priest. He will look after us and will always bring us back,” Allen said.
The local Archbishop issued a press release Monday suspending Allen from all ministry activities and prohibiting him from presenting himself as a Catholic priest.
“I am deeply saddened to hear that criminal charges, on the basis of sexual assault, have been laid against Fr. William Allen,” Terrence Prendergast said in the release.
Allen was part of the largest class of priests, 55, to come from the St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto in 1955.
He was ordained at St. Patrick’s church and after being curate at Hull’s Annunciation Parish he taught at St. Pius X High School.
He was celebrated for his 55 years of priesthood this year.
Allen is also quoted in the newsletter saying priests should not be a “recluse.”
“It is important to get together for prayer and recreation,” he said.
Allen is said to be in failing health and withdrew from active ministry a number of years ago, Prendergast said.
“Justice must be done, and must be seen to be done,” Prendergast said.
After teaching at St. Pius, Allen exercised parish ministry at Blessed Sacrament, St. Monica’s, Resurrection of Our Lord, Holy Family Catholic Community, St. Elizabeth and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He also gave spiritual leadership to the Carleton Catholic Parent-Teachers Association and the Lay Carmelite Community.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa police sexual assault and child abuse unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944, or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS).
kenneth.jackson@sunmedia.ca