Kennebec Journal
11 February 2012
Staff Report
PORTLAND — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is investigating a retired Maine priest for “reported incidents” of abuse between 1982 and 1986, according to a press release distributed by the church on Saturday.
The church doesn’t elaborate on the incidents, but retired Father Antonin “Tony” Caron has a history of disciplnary and legal troubles.
In March 2000, the church suspended Caron for several months for his involvement with a now-defunct website for gay clergymen.
In 1993, he was brought to trial and acquitted of sexually assaulting a woman.
Caron, 68, was ordained in 1969 and served Maine communities for most of four decades. After his suspension in 2000, Caron resumed his ministry throughout Maine until 2010, according to the press release.
Caron worked in various parishes, including Portland, Waterville, Old Orchard, Lewiston, Presque Isle, Berwick, Sanford and others.
Bishop Richard Malone asks anyone with information regarding the abuse to contact local law enforcement or Deacon John Brennan at 207-321-7836.
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Portland Diocese Investigates Retired Priest
News 8 ABC wmtw.com
11 February 2012
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is conducting an investigation into sexual abuse claims against retired priest Fr. Antonin (Tony) R. Caron. The initial complaint was made in November of 2011 and involves alleged incidents between 1982 and 1986 while Father Caron was at Our Lady of Ransom Parish in Mechanic Falls, and St. Gregory Parish in Gray.
Sue Bernard, spokesperson for the diocese, said the initial claims are serious enough that the diocese will conduct a through investigation.
Father Caron had retired due to medical reason prior to being acquitted of criminal sex abuse charges in 1994. Father Caron was suspended in March of 2000 by Bishop Joseph Gerry for Caron’s alleged involvement in a pornographic website. Caron was reinstated the following summer with limited ministry and since 2010, he has had no public ministry.
Fr. Caron, 68, was born in Lewiston and was ordained in 1969. He served at Notre Dame in Waterville, St. Margaret in Old Orchard. St. Mary in Lewiston, St Mary in Presque Isle, St. Michael, South Berwick, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, St. Ignatius in Sanford, St. Mary in Eagle Lake and St James in Woodland.
Parishioners were informed of the investigation in a letter sent by Bishop Richard Malone this weekend.
Bishop Malone encourages anyone with information about this case or any other cases of sexual assault to contact the diocese or law enforcement.
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Portland Diocese investigating retired local priest
The Portland Press Herald
11 February 2012
Staff Report
PORTLAND — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is investigating a retired Maine priest for “reported incidents” of abuse between 1982 and 1986, according to a press release distributed by the church on Saturday.
The church doesn’t elaborate on the incidents, but retired Father Antonin “Tony” Caron has a history of disciplnary and legal troubles.
In March 2000, the church suspended Caron for several months for his involvement with a now-defunct website for gay clergymen.
In 1993, he was brought to trial and acquitted of sexually assaulting a woman.
Caron, 68, was ordained in 1969 and served Maine communities for most of four decades. After his suspension in 2000, Caron resumed his ministry throughout Maine until 2010, according to the press release.
Caron worked in various parishes, including Portland, Waterville, Old Orchard, Lewiston, Presque Isle, Berwick, Sanford and others.
Bishop Richard Malone asks anyone with information regarding the abuse to contact local law enforcement or Deacon John Brennan at 207-321-7836.
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Priest accused of past sexual abuse
The Sun Journal
Published on Saturday, Feb 11, 2012 at 12:12 am | Last updated on Saturday, Feb 11, 2012 at 8:08 pm
By Staff report
Bishop Richard Malone alerted parishioners in a letter over the weekend that the church is investigating a two-decades-old sexual abuse complaint against Father Antonin Caron, a Lewiston native.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland received the complaint in November concerning incidents between 1982 and 1986 at Our Lady of Ransom Parish in Mechanic Falls and St. Gregory Parish in Gray, according to a news release.
Diocese spokeswoman Sue Bernard said the complaint involved someone who would have been a minor in the 1980s.
“We wanted to let the public know that a preliminary investigation is complete and the follow-up is that more investigation is necessary,” Bernard said, adding, “We always report these cases to civil authorities.”
Caron, 68, has served at a number of churches around the state, including St. Mary’s in Lewiston. In 1994, he was acquitted on a charge of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Washington County. Six years later, Bishop Joseph Gerry temporarily suspended Caron for several months for his ties to a pornographic website. Caron hasn’t had a ministry since 2010.
Malone asked parishioners with information about the case to contact Deacon John Brennan in the diocese’s Office of Professional Responsibility at 321-7836 or to call local police.
Nice again to see that parishioners were notified and encouraged to report.
I think the best bet is to call local police.