Dominica Roman Catholic Church Now Wants Rome To Rule On Sexual Abuse Allegation Against Priest

ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – The Roman Catholic Church Friday, said it would await a ruling from Rome following an investigation into allegations that a priest had sexually abused a girl more than two decades ago.

Bishop Gabriel Malzire in a brief statement said that a review board had concluded that the case is beyond its competence, adding that the situation regarding Monsignor Reginald La Fleur and the allegations of sexual abuse of a minor “has caused much pain to everyone, let alone the accuse of the alleged victim.

“The Diocesan Review Board which has been looking into the matter for practically a year now has concluded that the case is beyond our competence and therefore according to the norms of the Church it needs to be referred to the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, the orders in law which deals with those matters for a decision”.

The Roman Catholic Church had launched the investigation into media reports last year June that quoted a woman from Portsmouth, north of here, as saying that she had been sexually abused as a teenager over two decades ago.

The woman, identified as “Jane Doe”, had in correspondence obtained by the local media accused the priest of abusing her while he served in Portsmouth.

Last June, villagers of the southern village of Grand Bay demanded the return of the priest and vouched for his innocence.

Monsignor La Fleur has been placed on administrative leave while the matter was being investigated and Bishop Malzire said he would remain on administrative leave “until we receive a decision from Rome.

“Consequently I have appointed Monsignor William John Lewis as acting Parish Priest of the Parish of St. Patrick for that period. Therefore I solicit the present support and cooperation of the parishioners… to help build the parish in a way that God desires.

“Let us continue to pray for Monsignor La Fleur and the alleged victim and the entire diocese in this special time of need,” he said, urging prayers also for “divine guidance towards a just resolution to this issue”.