Maine Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List | Injury Lawyer Team

List of Accused Priests in Maine

There have been several priests accused of abuse in Maine over the years, showcasing a pattern of abuse by church officials. Alleged abuse cases in Maine date back decades, indicating issues within the church like systemic cover-ups of the abuse.

Survivors don’t always come forward about the abuse until later in life. Regardless of when they choose to do so, Injury Lawyer Team is dedicated to being an advocate for them every step of the way.

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Last Name	First Name	Diocese	Status	Accusations (Summary)
Boivin	Phillip J.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Accused of abuse of a boy, age 9 or 10, in 1941 or 1942 at St. John Parish in Rumford, per documents released by Maine AG in 7/05. Died in 1953.
Beaudet	George W.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the Portland diocese in 1/2007. Laicized in 5/2008.
Berube	Louis F.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Berube was accused of abuse of girls in 1954, 1961-62, and 1971. He retired in 1992 and died in 2002.
Audibert	John L.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Accused of abuse of a minor, removed from active ministry without privileges, permanently removed from ministry by the Vatican, ordered to lead a life of prayer and penance.
Boltz	Henry A.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Boltz was accused of abuse as a boy by three men. He retired in 1966 and died at age 79 in 1970.
Cahill	William B.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Accused of abuse of at least three boys between 1950 and 1960, per documents released by Maine AG in 2005. Died 2/5/1986.
Caron	Antonin R.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Caron was found not guilty of gross sexual assault and other charges involving a 13-year-old girl, but was later named in the news for posting on a gay web site created by another priest, Fr. John Harris.
Carrier	Herve G.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Carrier abused an 8-year-old girl in 1958, but church officials did not believe her until 1993.
Carrigan	Frederick A.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Carrigan was removed from ministry in 1989, first accused of abuse of a minor in 1991, and laicized in 2002.
Corbeil	Ralph	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Corbeil was accused of abusing a 15-year-old girl in 1948 and an altar boy 1952-56, per documents released by Maine AG’s office in 5/05.
Coughlin	Paul E.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Law enforcement informed the diocese that Coughlin had been accused of inappropriate physical contact with a minor in 1985, but the diocese deemed the allegation unsubstantiated.
Bigelin	Charles	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Bigelin was accused of abuse in 2002, when a man reported him at age 13.
Cote	David P.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Cote, one of three priests accused of abusing Native American children, said he didn’t see himself as abusing anybody.
Crozier	John	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Crozier was accused of abusing three brothers and one sister in the 1960s and 1970s. He died in 1990.
Crete	Marcel	Diocese of Portland ME	Convicted	Pleaded guilty to five counts of gross sexual misconduct against a 12-year-old boy in 1983 and was sentenced to 8 years with all but two and a half years suspended.
Curran	John J.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Curran retired in 1972 and died in 1976. Three new lawsuits were filed in 2022 by men alleging abuse by Curran as boys, ages 11-14, in the 1960s.
Cyr	Armand E.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	A woman told the Diocese of Portland in OR in 2002 that Monsignor Cyr molested her in 1949 and 1957.
Descombes	Eugene	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	A priest from Quebec, who worked several summers in Maine, was found guilty of sexually abusing a minor in the mid-1950s.
Delaney	Herman	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	A woman was accused of raping her shortly before she graduated from high school in 1967. She recovered under hypnosis memories of being abused by her father, father’s friends, and her mother.
Dooley	Joseph C.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	A woman made allegations of abuse against Dooley in 2002 and 2000; her age at the time of the alleged abuse was unknown. He was assigned to Cheverus High School 1954-1958.
Doyon	Dominique	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	In 2002 and 2003, two men accused Doyon of molesting them in Lewiston in the 1960s and ’70s.
Fiset	Louis Philippe	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Originally from Canada. Named in the 2005 Portland AG report as having abused one youth, ages 14-18, between 1968-1978 in Lewiston. Report was made in 2003. Shown as deceased.
Doucette	Michael L.	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	Accused of abusing a boy over several years in the early 1980s, Doucette was removed from his parish in 2002 and admitted to “several physical encounters” with a 15-year-old parishioner.
Craig	Arthur P.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	A girl, ages 4-8, was sexually abused by Craig and other priests at a Bar Harbor seminary and Bucksport retreat house.
Gauvin	Paul L.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	The diocese announced a substantiated claim against Gauvin of abuse of a minor in the early 1970s. Gauvin left Maine in 1994 and was working in Connecticut in 2012.
Girardin	Antonio M.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Documents produced with the 2005 Maine Attorney General’s Report show at least four allegations of abuse against Girardin. He was accused of sexually abusing a boy at a Pittsfield parish.
Hallee	Renald C.	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	A woman filed a suit against Hallee and the diocese, but the court ruled in favor of the diocese and Hallee due to the statute of limitations. Hallee’s last assignment as a priest was in 1977. He taught in Lexington MA 1978-2007 and was laicized 5/4/09.
Gorham	Peter Paul	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Accused of abuse dating back to 1953, retired in 1996 and led a life of prayer and penance.
Harris	John E.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Disciplined in 1999 for launching a sexually explicit website, placed on leave in 2003, and defrocked in 2015. Accused of sexually abusing a boy beginning when he was 14.
Henderson	Thomas	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	The 2005 Maine AG report includes one claim that Henderson attempted to rape a 13- or 14-year old boy.
Hill	Ernest Justin	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Hill was suspended by his order in 1994 for refusing to undergo psychological testing, and was accused of sexual abuse in Maine in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Kane	Francis J.	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	Kane was accused of abuse of a youth in 1982 and was ordered by the Vatican to lead a life of prayer and penance.
Laplante	Laurent	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	A teenager said a priest touched her pants six years ago, but the diocese found no evidence of the incident.
Lauzon	Raymond J.	Diocese of Portland ME	Convicted	A woman reportedly told four priests that Lauzon was sexually abusing boys in the 1970s. A man was accused of performing oral sex on a boy and was sentenced to six months jail and one year probation.
Lee	Thomas M.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	The bishop appealed to the Vatican in 12/08, but the appeals court affirmed the tribunal ruling and Lee would not be reassigned.
Levasseur	Angelo B.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	A teenage boy came forward to the diocese in 2017 accusing Levasseur of sexually abusing him in a hotel room in Quebec in the early 1990s.
Mandeville	Lucien	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	A man, age 89, who claimed to have been sexually abused at age 13 in 1948 by Mandeville, settled a lawsuit in 4/2024 so that he could put it behind him in the best way he could for healing.
Madigan	Daniel Greene	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Ordained in Worcester, MA, assigned in the Archdiocese of Seattle and Diocese of Portland, granted faculties in the Diocese of Gaylord in 7/2003, removed from St. Rose in Herron, accused of grooming and boundary violations toward a teenage boy.
McGowan	Joseph R.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	A 78-year-old man reported that McGowan abused him at ages 13-15 in 1937-39 at St. Francis Xavier in Winthrop.
McKeone	Lucien	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	McKeone was accused of abusing a boy and two sisters in the early 1960s in Rumford. He died in 1980, age 47.
McEnany	Shawn	Diocese of Portland ME	Convicted	Pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact with a 15-year-old female student in 1988, received two one-year suspended sentences and one year probation, and was hired in 1990 to work at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, NH.
Melville	Raymond P.	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	Melville left active priesthood in 1997 and was sued by a man who claimed abuse for seven years, including rape, beginning when he was age 13. Melville admitted the allegations and was dismissed from suit in 2007 and was living in OK in 2013.
Plourd	Maurice	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	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.
Pellerin	Albert	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Per documents released 5/27/05 by the Maine A.G., a man reported in 2002 that Pellerin groped him as a boy in the 1960s in Lewiston. Pellerin was deceased when the report was made.
Michaud	Leo James	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	James L. Michaud was removed from active ministry in 2002 due to allegations of sexual abuse of teenage boys in the early 1970s. He was one of three priests accused of abusing four Native American children between 1972 and 1987.
Ouellette	Rosario E.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	In 2004, the diocese reported that Ouellette had abused a middle school aged boy.
Plourde	Michael L.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Publicly named as accused by diocese on 1/27/07, Plourde was laicized in 5/08 after allegations of sexual misconduct toward an adult. Two brothers sued the diocese in 12/22, claiming Plourde sexually abused them when they were altar boys in 1978-1979.
Romani	Joseph C.	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Born in Italy, Romani arrived in Portland in 1945, was incardinated in 1946, and retired in 1983. He may have failed to report additional allegations against Rev. Lawrence Sabatino.
Sabatino	Lawrence A.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	A Lewiston family told the bishop and police that Sabatino had sexually abused their 6-year-old daughter. At least 13 women have come forward to claim that Sabatino abused them as children, at ages ranging from 6-17.
Roy	Christian F.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	A priest was accused of abuse of a boy and was laicized in 2006, but a man sued the diocese in 2016 claiming abuse as a boy by Roy and Rev. Raymond Lauzon.
Robitaille	Marcel L.	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	Church ignored complaints in 1986 that Robitaille abused a nephew. Robitaille was accused of abusing his younger brothers and the nephew over a period of many years, but the civil suit against the diocese was dismissed in 2002.
Shorty	John	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Assigned to parishes in Caribou, Portland, Stonington and Augusta. Placed on leave in 1994, accused of abuse 1976-81.
	Alexis-du-Sacre-Coeur	Diocese of Portland ME	Accused	Accused of sexually abusing an 8- or 9-year-old boy in 1948 or 1949 by having him sit under her desk as a punishment.
McKeough	Helen	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Keogh was accused of abusing a girl, age 7, at St. Ann’s Indian Island School.
Thibodeau	Clement	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Thibodeau was accused of sexually abusing a boy, age 12, in the late 1960s. The boy tried to run away from the school, but was returned by police and “corporally punished”.
Thibault	Armand J.	Diocese of Portland ME	Convicted	Sacred Heart Brother for 34 years, during which time he spent 21 years in Lesotho and Zambia. He was found not guilty of sexual contact with children under 14 and child endangerment.
Vaillancourt	Robert C.	Diocese of Portland ME	Reinstated	On 7/5/21, the Diocese placed Vaillancourt on leave pending the investigation of sexual abuse allegations. On 7/22, the Diocese announced that the allegations were unfounded, and Vaillancourt would be returned to active ministry.
Vallely	James P.	Diocese of Portland ME	Settled	At least five allegations of abuse were made against Vallely, who was ordained in 1949 and moved to Portland ME diocese in 1951. He retired in 1988 and was found guilty in 1993.
Walsh	Mary Geraldine	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Walsh was accused of sexually abusing a second-grade boy at St. John’s School in Bangor 1957-58, and of spanking students on their exposed buttocks in front of the class.
Ward	Edward F.	Diocese of Portland ME	Sued	Monsignor Ward was accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old altar boy at St. John’s in Bangor in 1966. The principal was allegedly walked in on the abuse.

About Clergy Abuse

An issue with clergy abuse in Maine and elsewhere is that many don’t realize what constitutes clergy abuse. This type of abuse is when clergy members physically, emotionally, or sexually abuse other members of the Catholic Church. Any instance of sexual misconduct is clergy abuse, but it’s often associated with child sexual abuse.

Abuse by a Priest or any other church official can leave lasting effects on the survivor. They often have to deal with emotional, spiritual, and psychological trauma for the rest of their lives. Taking the leap to report a clergy member is one way to start down the path to healing and stopping the cycle. The legal process for a lawsuit in Maine involves reporting the crime, hiring a clergy abuse attorney, gathering evidence, filing the lawsuit, and finally settling with the accused priest or clergy member.

Legal Support for Survivors in Maine

If you or someone you care about has been a victim of clergy sexual abuse in Maine, working with a law firm you can trust is essential. Injury Lawyer Team are prepared to take on your case and fight for your rights in or outside the courtroom. We have the experience and compassion to handle clergy abuse cases in Maine so you can begin to heal from your past.

Laws and Regulations in Maine

Maine has many of the same laws and regulations that other states have in regard to clergy abuse when it comes to mandatory reporters. People in certain occupations like religious roles, healthcare, education, and more are required by law if they suspect someone is abusing children.

What makes Maine stand out compared to other states is that they no longer have a statute of limitations for civil lawsuits against clergy members. This state law, better known as an Act To Protect the Public from Clergy Sexual Abuse, passed in 2021 and allows survivors to pursue civil claims regardless of when the abuse occurred. Since it’s passing, more survivors are coming forward and helping bring clergy members to justice.

Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Maine

Before you can begin filing your claim, you’ll need to report the abuse to the police. After that, those who want to file a claim to bring civil or criminal charges against Catholic Priests in the Maine Diocese, there are steps you’ll need to follow to give yourself the best chance of getting a settlement and holding them accountable:

• Initial Lawyer Consultation: You’ll meet with an experienced attorney to talk about the details of your case so they can determine the best way to move forward with your claim.
• Evidence Gathering and Investigation: Evidence will be collected, like testimonies, documentation, and witness statements, so the police can conduct a thorough investigation.
• Filing the Lawsuit: Your attorney will file your lawsuit with the courts against those accused of sexual abuse.
• Discovery: Both parties and attorneys will go through the discovery process to exchange information and find more evidence.
• Settlement Negotiations or Trial: There will be an attempt to reach a fair settlement outside of court. If that can’t happen, victims will have the ability to take the case to trial and let a jury determine what happens.

Following these steps is the best way to ensure you get justice. Contact Injury Lawyer Team to learn more about how we can support you emotionally and legally throughout the process.

Support Resources for Survivors in Maine

For survivors of clergy sexual abuse, Maine has various support resources for them to take advantage of if they choose. From support groups to counselors specializing in abuse, from religious leaders to crisis hotlines, there’s help for them in Maine:

• Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM)
• Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP)
• Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA)
• Catholic Charities Maine

Each organization or support resource offers something different to survivors. Many help them find counseling services and provide them with victim advocates and other resources to help them on their path to healing.

Notable Cases and Outcomes in Maine

While Maine has taken measures to prevent clergy abuse, it still happens. Some of the cases include credibly accused of abuse from Catholic Church officials, while others haven’t been deemed credible by the Catholic Church. Some of the most notable cases, some including deceased priests, are:

• The Roman Catholic Church of Portland: In 2016, there was a slew of abuse allegations against the Portland Diocese. Six men filed the suit and were abused by Father James Vallely throughout various parishes in the state. The lawsuit claims other leaders knew about the abuse and didn’t report it. The Diocese of Portland paid a total of $1.2 million to the six survivors.
• Cheverus High School: The Jesuits released a list of 50 Priests, seven of who were accused of abuse while working at Cheverus High School. These seven Priests were credibly accused. Of the seven, five are deceased. One Priest pleads guilty to abusing two teenagers while working in Boston.

Our attorneys have reviewed private and public settlement data related to clergy abuse cases in Maine. Settlements depend heavily on the circumstances of your case, but according to the database we’ve reviewed, these cases are valued between $400,000 and $950,000. In cases of extreme misconduct, settlements can reach $1 million or more.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team

Clergy abuse happens in Maine, and a lot goes underreported for various reasons. Whether it’s because victims are afraid to come forward, don’t see the point, or don’t know how to proceed, reporting and filing a lawsuit is a great way to start the healing process and protect others from abuse from the same person.

$14 Million Priest grooming and handling	$4 Million Deacon assault and rape	$3 Million Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood
$3 Million Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse	$2 Million Religious school priest teen sexual abuse	$2 Million Clergy abuse case filed against a deceased priest

Injury Lawyer Team understands the nuances of cases of clergy abuse in Maine and will treat your case with the attention it deserves. We have an extensive track record of handling abuse cases for survivors and will do everything we can to fight for the justice you seek. Our dedicated legal team will support you every step of the way.

Contact Injury Lawyer Team

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.