PORTLAND (AP) – The pastor of a church in Lyman has stepped down pending an investigation of a report of sexual abuse of a minor about 20 years ago, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland announced Saturday.

The Rev. Thomas Lee, 75, was asked to relinquish his post at St. Philip Parish while the church investigates the allegation, diocese officials said.

In a statement to the parish at services Saturday, Bishop Joseph Gerry said Lee stepped down voluntarily last year while officials first investigated the accusation. Lee, who denied the charge, returned to his post after the investigation was unable to substantiate the claim.

Gerry said new information has been received in the past week regarding the allegation, and that he asked Lee to step down again while the investigation is under way.

“This is not to be construed as predicting the outcome of the investigation,” Gerry said to parishioners. “It is part of the procedure outlined in the Dallas Charter which is a prudent and necessary precaution pending a fuller investigation and resolution of this matter.”

The ‘Dallas Charter’ is a policy regarding priests and allegations of sexual abuse that was adopted by American bishops last year.

Lee is restricted from having contact with minors and will have no ministry during the investigation. Church officials said Lee has again denied the allegation, and that the restrictions are procedural, not punitive.

The internal church investigation is being headed by John Brennan, a former deputy chief for the Portland Police Department, said diocese spokeswoman Sue Bernard.

Lee, who is originally from Portland, was ordained as a priest in 1953 and had been with St. Philip Parish since 1985, Bernard said.