WATERVILLE (AP) – The family of a longtime church organist is criticizing Maine’s Roman Catholic diocese for the way it dismissed the woman from the church for allegedly having sexual contact with a minor about 30 years ago.

Church officials announced Saturday that Toni Breton of Waterville would no longer be allowed to function in a ministerial role for the Parish of the Holy Spirit. In a letter to parishioners, Bishop Richard Malone said the church had substantiated the allegation against Breton.

In a statement, Breton’s family criticized the church for not allowing Breton to review the evidence against her or participate in a hearing where the church made its determination.

Breton is being treated like a criminal even though she has never been charged with a crime, the family said.

“We are deeply hurt at the way our mother has been treated in this matter by the Catholic Church, a church she has served faithfully for over 40 years, and a church in which she raised her children because she has always believed its doctrine and its truth,” the family said in the statement.

Ken Rossignol, a son-in-law of Breton, told the Morning Sentinel that the episode has left Breton “emotionally, physically and just spiritually drained.”

“The only thing that has really kept her going is the support and prayers of those who still believe in her,” he said.

Evert Fowle, district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties, said the allegations cannot be tried in court because of the statute of limitations.

A charge of gross sexual assault cannot be pursued if it occurred before September 1985, Fowle said. Legislators did away with a statute of limitations for gross sexual assault in 1991, he said, but that change only applied to cases six years before the new law took effect.